Materials and Formulas. 135 



been first utilized by Louis Dayere, formerly professor of agri- 

 culture at the Institute of Versailles. He used the liquid in 

 Algiers for preventing insects from injuring stored wheat, and 

 it is now commonly used in this country for similar purposes. 1 

 The vapor is heavy and it is better, when possible, to apply 

 the liquid above the parts to be treated, so that the entire space 

 may be more quickly filled. The amount of liquid to use will 

 vary with the tightness of the receptacle, and the character of 

 the product to be protected. For growing plants it is not advis- 

 able to evaporate more than 20 or 25 minims in a vessel con- 

 taining from 2 to 3 cubic feet of space, this being an equivalent 

 of 1 pint of the liquid to about 1000 cubic feet of space, or to 1 

 ton of grain. If so used, the receptacle should be as nearly air- 

 tight as possible. When grain or other seeds are treated, the 

 amount can be advantageously increased, and much larger quan- 

 tities than the above can be used without fear of injury. All 

 vermin that live underground can also be successfully extermi- 

 nated. Ants' nests may be destroyed by making a hole in the 

 center of the nests, and then pouring in 2 or 3 teaspoonfuls of 

 the liquid, after which the hole should be tightly closed with 

 earth. VToodchucks and gophers can easily be killed by means 

 of this poison ; about a gill of the fluid is poured upon rags or 

 cotton, and these are then forced into the animal's burrow. 

 The opening should then be closed, and the woodchuck will 

 cause no more trouble if all the holes are similarly treated. 



Subterranean applications for the destruction of insects have 

 also been successfully made. The phylloxera of the grape has 

 been so destroyed, and the cabbage root-maggot may be over- 

 come in this manner more advantageously than in any other. 

 A machine known as the McGowen bisulphide of carbon in- 

 jector 2 was invented in 1894 for the purpose of making such 

 applications, so the liquid may now be used quickly and effec- 

 tively in treating underground insects. 



CARBON BISULPHIDE AND KEROSENE. The mixture is pre- 

 pared by using 1 part of carbon bisulphide, and from 5 to 20 

 parts of kerosene. The two should be thoroughly stirred before 

 being applied. The action is similar to that of the bisulphide 

 of carbon, but the mixture is practically out of use. 



i Akhbar, 1857, Oct. 16. Cited in Gard. Chron. 1858, Aug. 28, 653. 

 Cornell Agric. Exp. St&. 1894, Bull. 78. 



