XXXIV. ABSTRACT OF PROCEEDINGS, 
these have very little effect, for in places where they were 
quite plentiful, the weevils did not seem to have lessened. 
Grain with 8% of moisture is proof against weevil, and 
even with 10% it is fairly safe. Wheat will never absorb 
more than under 2% of moisture from damp air, even under 
extreme conditions, so that if it is stacked with 8% of 
moisture it should be fairly safe from weevil. The trouble 
is not brought about by moist air, but by water getting at 
the grain. The weevil multiplies rapidly in grain that has 
become wetted, and especially after fermentation has set 
in. In the stacks, there is always some place where 
through insufficient covering, rain has got to the grain, or 
where the grain falls from a pierced or burst bag to the 
ground, and getsdamp. The damp grain serves as a breed- 
ing centre for the weevil. 
Various disinfectants have been tried, but with some the 
smell is too persistent, and clings to the grain and damages 
the flour. Others, while destroying external insects, do 
not affect the grub within the grain. To be of use the 
disinfectant must not be too volatile, for it requires from 
24 to 48 hours to ensure penetration, and*yet it must be 
sufficiently volatile to become dissipated during storage or 
the subsequent milling. A good disinfectant has not yet 
been obtained. 
The electrical method of endeavouring to destroy them 
by high voltages was ineffectual, as with a charge of 63,000 
volts between two metallic plates, the insects simply stood 
on end, and when the current was disconnected, they ran 
off the plate. One cannot get the current to go through 
the weevils. 
The method of destroying them by heat remained. In 
this connection, it has been found that if the grain is sub- 
jected to a temperature of 140° F. for three minutes, all the 
weevil is killed. The desideratum is to get a machine 
