78 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA : 



Experiments have been carried out in America to ascer- 

 tain the action of bi-sulphide of carbon upon the germina- 

 tion of wheat, and it has been proved that it can be exposed 

 for 36 hours without injury ; and for 24 hours without 

 spoiling it for milling purposes. One pound of bi-sulphide 

 of carbon costs in Melbourne about sixpence, and this 

 quantity is sufficient to treat about 100 bushels of grain. 

 In America, where the carbon is cheaper, it has been 

 estimated that, in a close building, 1,000 cubic feet of 

 space costs ten cents, so that 1 ton of wheat can be 

 fumigated for ten cents. In India, it has been proved 

 that bi-sulphide of carbon is a perfect preventive against 

 weevils in grain ; that its action lasts, if the building be 

 hermetically closed, six weeks, after which period a fresh 

 charge of the agent is required ; that, even in samples 

 which have been attacked by weevils, the effect of bi- 

 sulphide of carbon is immediately felt, the weevils disap- 

 pearing in masses. This chemical does no harm to grain 

 &s regards its colour, smell, and cooking properties. 



Mr, Froggatt, in one of his reports, states that several 

 millers have informed him that, if the bags of grain or 

 flour are stood on end when stacked, they resist the attacks 

 of all pests much better than if stacked on the flat. It is 

 .-also a well-known fact that if clean grain is placed in a salt 

 /bag, no weevil will infest it. The question then arises, 

 could not the corn sacks be dipped in brine and dried 

 before being used in the harvest field. The cost would 

 not be much, and, though the salted corn sacks might be 

 liable to absorb a certain amount of moisture from the 

 ^atmosphere, it would not be sufficient to injure the grain 

 enclosed. 



|N For treating both zoological and botanical specimens 

 which have been attacked by this pest, the carbon bi- 

 sulphide is an excellent remedy, and for painting dried 

 specimens of plants in a herbarium formalin is now 

 preferred to the corrosive sublimate (bi-chloride of 

 mercury) so largely in use in the herbaria of Europe and 

 elsewhere. 



