758 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 



arclies below as seen in Plate 121, fig. 1. A bin measuring 2Jx2|x2 

 feet can accommodate more than ten maunds of grain. It can be made 

 as large and high as one likes. A series of bins can be built side by 

 side. The Bihar Bakharis can be replaced in this manner. 



If it is intended to have a hole at the bottom for taking out the stored 

 grain whether in mud, masonry or iron bins, the hole should be protected 

 with sand as shown in Plate 124, fig. 2. 



The system of storage recommended here is applicable to cereals, 

 pulses and such articles as coriander seed, turmeric, etc., which can 

 be conveniently placed under sand and easily cleaned before use. 



Sand keeps the grain practically in the same condition in which 

 it is stored. The germinating power is unaffected. Earthen pots, at 

 least those available from the potters in the neighbourhood of Pusa, 

 have an injurious effect on the germinating power of seeds stored in them. 

 When the grain stored is intended to be used as seed earthen pots should 

 not be used. Kerosine tins or iron bins are good for this purpose. 



Storage above ground is always preferable to storage underground 

 such as in pits. But the pit system of storage is so much in vogue and 

 £0 cheap that it will probably not be given up quickly, although after 

 the initial expenditure has been met for making proper preparations 

 for above-ground storage, the better quahty of the stored grain, fetching 

 a higher price, and the absence of loss due to insects, moisture and 

 fermentation, will soon more than make up for the initial expenditure. 



Mr. Ramakrishna We tried storing paddy seeds according to this method and the 



^^^^^- seeds were unaffected by the beetles. 



Mr. G. R. Dutt. Mr. Ghosh has said that a cloth should be placed between the layer 



of sand and the grain ; if so, how would the insects be able to get to the 

 top of the sand ? 



Mr.Kunhi Kannan. In Mysore we carried out some investigations along the lines suggested 

 in this paper and we came to the same conclusions. The insects do 

 come to the top layer and this is on account of the instinct of reproduc- 

 tion. In the grain they cannot copulate and for copulation they want 

 a central place where they can come together and so they come to the 

 surface, where they copulate and lay eggs. I have found that the 

 degree of infection is always greater at the top surface, so the insects 

 do come to the top. If there is a layer of sand they cannot get in again. 

 If the layer of sand is not very thick and is only about half an inch deep, 

 then the beetles have been observed to go down and a very interesting 

 thing happens. Sometimes two or three beetles drag a grain to the 

 top and lay eggs there. 



