95 



ever before in its history; judging by correspondence, this insect is 

 rapidly widening its range, and unless radical measures are taken by 



the individuals whose products suffer from its attack, the insect will 

 undoubtedly continue to increase and spread and will soon become a 

 species of the highest economic importance. Complaints of injury 

 were received from different firm-, mostly tobacconists, wholesale and 

 retail, in New York City: Baltimore, Md. ; District of Columbia: Dan- 

 ville. Va.: Cincinnati. Ohio: Detroit. Mich. : Porto Rico; and Kingston. 

 Jamaica. The insect was the subject of considerable correspondence 

 from the localities mentioned. In most cases destruction was to 

 tobacco, but certain other products were affected. 



During February we received complaint from one of Cincinnati's 

 largest department stores of injury to cigarette tobacco. September 11 

 a manufacturer and importer of cigars in New York City complained 

 of this species, stating that the beetles were in every can of tobacco 

 received from a certain firm. They were eating through the wrap- 

 pers of cigars. October 10 complaint was made of considerable injury 

 by this insect to upholstered furniture in department stores at Detroit. 

 Mich. The insects were stated to be infesting the very best furniture 

 in one house. In the latter days of October Mr. Frank D. Gardner, 

 agent in charge of the experiment station at Porto Rico, stated that 

 cigar dealers in San Juan had considerable trouble in keeping their 

 stock for any length of time on account of the cigarette beetle boring 

 holes in the cigars and practically ruining them. November 13 a cigar 

 dealer at Baltimore. Md., stated that hi- firm had lost about 7<>0 of 

 their best cigars through the attacks of this insect. 



During July. 1901, complaint was made by a large wholesale and 

 retail tobacco establishment in the city of Washington of injury by 

 this beetle, and an opportunity was afforded for disinfecting the estab- 

 lishment infested by means of bisulphid of carbon. This work was 

 undertaken by Mr. W. E. Hinds, temporary assistant in this Division. 

 The results of these experiments, which were eminently satisfactory, 

 were published in Bulletin No. 30, new series, (pp. 78-82). This led to 

 a further study of carbon bisulphid as an insecticide and to the treat- 

 ment of this topic in a general manner. The results of further study 

 and investigation have found expression in Farmers' Bulletin 14o. pre- 

 pared by Mr. Hinds with the cooperation of Mr. E. E. Ewell, assistant 

 chemist of this Department. The cigarette beetle was also found by 

 Mr. J. Kotinsky, of this office, in a pharmacy at Washington, D. C, 

 affecting American saffron. 



January 23, 1902, complaint was received from a prominent cigar 

 manufacturer of New York City o\ injuries by tin- insect April !♦ 

 Mr. H. H. Cousins, island chemist, of Kingston. Jamaica, requested 

 information on dealing with the cigarette beetle, which he stated threat- 

 ened the tobacco trade of Jamaica. 



