PINK BOLLWORM OF COTTON IN MEXICO. 55 



Cleaning Gins, Oil Mills, and Seed Warehouses. 



In Mexico, where the infestation grows to be very intensive, thou- 

 sands of live larvse have been observed to come from the cleaners with 

 the trash. It is the common practice there merely to collect this 

 trash containing the large number of worms and place it in piles. 

 The "cleanings" should be caught in a receptacle rather than allowed 

 to fall on the ground, because the larvse will crawl and secrete them- 

 selves in cracks, crevices, and rubbish of various kinds. This trash 

 should be either burned or subjected to some treatment insuring the 

 death of the insects contained therein. If the trash does not contain 

 too much dirt to make it unburnable, the best plan is to burn it in the 

 boilers. A very good plan was devised by Mr. T. M. Fairbairn foi 

 handling the unburnable material. The end was knocked out of 

 an oil barrel and a small steam line run into the barrel, almost to the 

 bottom. The trash from the cleaners fell into the steaming barrel 

 and all larvse were quickly killed. 



After the season is over the gin plant or oil mill should be thor- 

 oughly cleaned. All seed and rubbish should be removed from every 

 nook and crevice of the machinery and buildings and burned. If 

 the structure of the buildings permits they should also be fumigated 

 after cleaning. 



It is the usual custom to keep enough seed on the plantations for a 

 second planting in case it is necessary. This seed should be as. care- 

 fully fumigated as the seed that is planted, and as an additional pre- 

 caution should be stored in a moth-proof screened room. It was very 

 noticeable that the infestation always began earlier in the season 

 and was heavier in the fields nearest the gins and seed warehouses. 



Fumigation. 



All seed used for planting or kept on the plantation after the 

 first of March should be fumigated. An air-tight room is necessary 

 for a successful fumigation, and it is better to build a special fumi- 

 gation house at least a hundred yards from the other buildings, so 

 that there will be no danger from fire. Carbon bisulphid is highly in- 

 flammable, and no fire should be allowed around the house while 

 fumigation is being done. The ordinary adobe construction is 

 satisfactory, but precautions should be taken to see that plenty of 

 mud is used and all cracks between the adobes well filled. A brick 

 floor set in mortar should be provided and the inside plastered. The 

 plastering not only makes the building more air-tight, but prevents 

 absorption of the gases by the walls. The doors should be of matched 

 wood, and paper should be plastered over the cracks when closed. 

 Seed may be fumigated in sacks or in bulk, but in either case should be 

 packed as little as possible. In no case should the seed to be fumigated 

 be over 5 feet deep. One pound of carbon disulphid should be used 



