DIPPING AND FUMIGATION OF NURSERY STOCK 19 



CARBON BISULPHIDE FIRST USED 



Carbon bisulphide was first used as an insecticide by Louis Doyere, a 

 former professor of Agriculture at the Institute of Versailles, in 1856 and 

 1857. He used small amounts of the liquid on grain to destroy the weevils 

 and their eggs. He also demonstrated that carbon bisulphide would not 

 injure the grain. In 1876, Cornu and Moulleferet, both French investigators, 

 demonstrated that carbon bisulphide could be successfully used upon grape 

 phylloxera, caterpillars, butterflies, cicadas, wasps and plant lice. 



Use up to present time. After 1876 the popularity of carbon bisulphide 

 as an insecticide became great and many experiments were carried on with 

 it. It was found to be an effective and cheap insecticide and easy to use. 

 Today carbon bisulphide is widely used for the following: 



1. To kill grape phylloxera on the roots of the grape. 



2. Root maggot of different sorts on the roots of different plants. 



3. For destruction of ants. 



4. To kill grubs and mole crickets. 



5. For the destruction of burrowing animals, such as moles, prairie 

 dogs, gophers, etc. 



6. For the destruction of sucking insects upon small plants. 



7. For fumigating buildings containing stored cereals to destroy the 

 insect pests. 



8. For destroying household pests, museum pests and similar pests. 



In fact carbon bisulphide is the most extensively used fumigant today 

 for destroying the more easily killed insects. 



Methods of using. Carbon bisulphide is easy to obtain and easy to 

 use. Any one who is willing to take a few precautions can use carbon bi- 

 sulphide with perfect safety. Carbon bisulphide is put up in tight tin cans 

 or steel drums and can be purchased in small quantities. It is very volatile 

 and diffuses through the air rapidly. The gas is heavier than air and this 

 factor is taken advantage of when using carbon bisulphide. In fumigating 

 bins containing cereals or similar places, shallow pans are usually employed. 

 The pans are set on top of the grain or on anything near the ceiling. Better 

 results are obtained if the place to be fumigated is made air tight and the 

 temperature is 70 F. or above. The carbon bisulphide is poured in the 

 pans, the doors closed and the cracks stopped so as to prevent the gas from 

 escaping from the building. Different authorities vary as to the rate at 

 which carbon bisulphide should be used. In Kansas the following amounts 

 have been recommended and other stations report similar amounts: 



At 90 F. 1 Ib. CS 2 is sufficient for every 500 cu. ft. 

 At 80F. 1 Ib. CSi> is sufficient for every 400 cu. ft. 

 At 70 F. 1 Ib. CS 2 is sufficient for every 300 cu. ft. 



If used in an open bin, the above amounts should be greatly increased 

 At a temperature below 60F. it is not advisable to fumigate with 



carbon bisulphide at all for it does not evaporate sufficiently fast below this 



temperature. 



