308 INSECT PESTS OF FARM, GARDEN AND ORCHARD 



kerosene may be used to destroy the weevils. Dr. Fletcher states : 

 "A remedy which has been used by many farmers with satisfaction 

 is to drench the seed with coal oil, using about a half a gallon to the 

 barrel, cr five bushels of peas. While applying the coal oil (kero- 

 sene) the seed should be placed on the floor, where it can be shoveled 

 over constantly to insure the treatment of all the grain." 



Scalding Seed. " When peas are found to contain live weevils 

 at the time of sowing, these may be destroyed by simply pouring 

 them into a pot of scalding water. The water should be drained 

 off at once or the seed cooled by turning in cold water." Fletcher. 



Heat. Dr. Chittenden states that it has been found that a tem- 

 perature of 145 F. will kill the weevils in the seed without injury 

 to the germinating property of the seed. 



Fumigation. This is undoubtedly the best means of destroy- 

 ing the weevils, and is now coming into general use. Dr. Fletcher, 

 who has made the most thorough studies of practical methods for 

 controlling this pest, states : " Fumigation with bisulfide of car- 

 bon is a sure remedy. When properly done, either in specially 

 constructed buildings known as ' bug-houses ' or in any tight bin, 

 every weevil is surely killed if the seed containing them is fumi- 

 gated for forty-eight hours with this chemical, using 1 pound by 

 weight to every 100 bushels of seed, or, in smaller quan ities, 1 

 ounce to every 100 pounds. For the treatment of small quantities 

 of seed, particularly by farmers, I have found that an ordinary 

 coal-oil barrel is very convenient. This will hold about 5 bushels, 

 or 300 pounds of seed, which may be treated with 3 ounces of bisul- 

 fide of carbon. Care must be taken to close up the top tightly. 

 This is best done with a cap made specially for the purpose, but 

 fine sacks laid smoothly on the top, over which boards are placed 

 with a weight on them, will answer. Fumigation with bisulfide 

 of carbon is, I believe, the remedy most to be relied upon in this 

 campaign. It is perfectly effective, is now regularly used by the 

 large seed merchants, and in future will be much more generally 

 used." 



(For directions for use of bisulfide of carbon and caution 

 concerning it, see page 57.) 



