16 CIRCULAR 3 7 3, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



Temperature. — The temperature during treatment should be 80° F. 

 Higher temperatures should be avoided because of their detrimental 

 effect on the fruit. Lower temperatures should be avoided if all 

 the beetles are to be killed. 



Exposure. — The fruit must be exposed for 2 hours. It should not 

 be exposed for more than 2 hours. 



Loading the fumigating chamber. — As many crates or boxes of 

 fruits as can be placed in the house with at least y 2 -inch air spaces 

 between them, may be fumigated at one time. When crates are 

 stacked one on top of another, narrow strips of wood should be used 

 to separate the upper from the lower and provide for better and 

 more rapid penetration of the gas. 



RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE USE OF ETHYLENE OXIDE 



Blackberries and raspberries can be fumigated in crates with 

 ethylene oxide in a satisfactory manner for the destruction of Japa- 

 nese beetles. Ethylene oxide slightly injures blueberries by remov- 

 ing the bloom from the fruit, but may be used if the absence of the 

 bloom is not of commercial importance. 



Fumigation house. — The house must be constructed so as to be gas- 

 tight. Ethylene oxide evolves rapidly at the temperature recom- 

 mended for fumigation, so it is not necessary that the house be 

 equipped for rapid evaporation of the fumigant. 



A hot-water heating system may be installed, as recommended for 

 the use of carbon disulphide, to maintain a temperature of 75° F. 



There must be a sufficient number of fans to insure circulation of 

 the gas. 



Caution. — The vapor of ethylene oxide, while not highly toxic to 

 man, should not be inhaled extensively. The concentrated vapors 

 of ethylene oxide are inflammable, but the concentration herein 

 recommended is nonexplosive and noninflammable. 



Dosage. — Ethylene oxide should be used at the rate of 2 pounds to 

 1.000 cubic feet of space. It will volatilize rapidly when exposed to 

 the temperature recommended for fumigation. 



Temperature. — The temperature during treatment should be 75° F. 



Exposure. — The fruit must be exposed for 2 hours. 



Loading the fumigating chamber. — See recommendation under 

 carbon disulphide fumigation. 



FUMIGATION OF GREEN BANANAS BY THE USE OF HYDROCYANIC 



ACID 5 



Large quantities of bananas are imported from the Tropics into 

 the city of Philadelphia, Pa. The green fruit is shipped by boat to 

 Philadelphia and transferred to refrigerator cars, in which it is dis- 

 tributed to localities throughout the Eastern States. Since Phila- 

 delphia is situated in the area heavily infested with the Japanese 

 beetle (Popillia japonica Newm.), cars loaded in this city while the 

 beetles are abundant are subject to infestation. Quarantine regula- 

 tions, therefore, require that when the presence of the insects is noted 

 in the vicinity of the wharves, no cars destined for points outside the 



5 By J. William Lipp. 



