60 
out occasionally, no one need be troubled with weevils in their 
grain elevators. There is one thing that we have discovered, 
and that is that the compound must be reasonably fresh when 
used. If kept for any great length of time it loses its strength, 
consequently it should *be used as soon as practicable after 
receiving it, and no more should be ordered than it is intended 
to use. 
“Before commencing the use of bisulfide of carbon this mill 
was badly infested with weevils and other insects. Now we are 
nearly free from the pests. I do not say that this remedy will 
kill every insect in a mill. I do not think there is an insectcide 
made powerful enough to reach every nook and crevice, such 
as we have in mills; but we do know that by a judicious use of 
bisulfide of carbon in warm weather, when the insects are in 
full force, and by a due regard to cleanliness all over the mill, 
any mill can be rid of the pests. 
“The compound being highly inflammable, there should be 
no fire or lights used in the mill at the time it is applied. The 
best time to apply it is Saturday evening, and the mill should 
he kept closed till Monday morning.” 
There have been so many exaggerated reports about the 
nature of this chemical compound that it is necessary to give 
a few notes regarding it in this place. In this connection I can 
do no greater service than to quote a letter from Mr. Edward R. 
Taylor, of Penn Yan, N. Y., the leading manufacturer of bisul- 
fide of carbon in this country. It appeared in the “American 
Miller” for Sepember. 1895, and read as follows; 
"Editor ‘American Miller:’ I have seen a great many very 
random statements on the subject of the inflammability of 
bisulfide of carbon. One says, ‘Use the same care as with gun- 
powder.’ Another says, ‘It is a very explosive liquid.’ These 
are both very misleading statements with reference to the prop- 
erties of bisulfide of carbon. I have quoted the statements, how- 
ever, in my printed matter for the reason that farmers and 
many others use the goods, and will be sufficiently startled by 
such statements to be careful and have no light or fire about. 
“Nearly everybody is now familiar with gasoline. The 
properties of that liquid and bisulfide are practically identical 
in that both are inflammable but neither of them explosive. 
The vapor of either of them mixed with air is explosive, but 
the liquids are not explosive. I have shipped thousands of 
pounds of bisulfide to millers, elevator operators, and farmers 
in the last few years, and I have yet to have the first report of 
any disaster, even of the most trivial character, from a single 
one of them. Need I say more? My directions, are explicit. 
Do the work Saturday afternoon by daylight. Absolutely have 
no light or fire of any kind about. Close the mill arid leave the 
bugs to their destruction till Monday morning. Then open 
doors and windows, and thoroughly ventilate before going to 
work.” 
Some of the insurance companies have commenced to feel 
a little uneasy lest they should suffer loss by fire originating 
from the use of bisulfide of carbon in mills. The “American 
Miller” has investigated this subject by sending letters of 
inquiry to all the more important millers’ insurance companies 
in the United States and Canada, and so far has not learned of 
a single fire which is known to have been caused by the use of 
bisulfide of carbon. The properties of the fluid have been fully 
