46 



CIRCULAR 3 6 9, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



EFFECT OF FUMIGATION ON FURS 



Fur garments appear to be in no way affected by the vapors of 

 the fumigants recommended, and dry storage has no deleterious ef- 

 fect upon the furs. A few instances of change in color of furs 

 stored in fumigable storage have been reported, but in no case has 

 this been clearly shown to be the result of fumigation. Thousands 

 of dollars' worth of furs are being stored annually in fumigable 

 storages throughout the country, to the satisfaction of all concerned. 



Figuke 34. — Exterior view of commercial fur-storage vault equipped for fumiga- 

 tion with ethylene dichloricle-carbon tetrachloride mixture. Note storage drum 

 at right, pump at left, and pressure tank in center connected with various 

 fumigating vaults, not shown, by pipe lines on wall. 



Rugs and Tapestries 



Rugs and tapestries in storage can be protected by the same 

 methods and equipment that are recommended for the storage of 

 furs. Many firms, however, prefer to use naphthalene flakes or 

 paradichlorobenzene crystals in place of liquid fumigants. On ex- 

 posure to air at ordinary room temperatures, both these solid fumi- 

 gants give off a heavy vapor, which gradually permeates the atmos- 

 phere of the storage room. If a saturated atmosphere of either of 

 these materials is maintained in the storage room, adequate protection 

 from insects can be obtained (fig. 35). 



At a temperature of 77° F., 8 ounces of paradichlorobenzene or 0.64 

 ounce of naphthalene is required to saturate the atmosphere in 1,000 

 cubic feet of space, where there is no opportunity for escape of vapors. 

 Under ordinary storage conditions, however, it is advisable to use an 



