Insects and Insecticides. 
31 
snuff, may also be used dry against the same insects. It is best to 
first spray the insects with water. 
26. SULFUR. 
Everyone knows of the use of sulfur fumes for the destruction 
of animal life. Sulfur is specially destructive to “ red spiders ” and 
“brown mites,” and may be applied as flowers of sulfur, dry, 
through a blow-gun of some sort, or mixed in water or soap solu¬ 
tions in the proportion of an ounce to a gallon of the liquid and 
applied as a spray. 
27. HOT WATER. 
Water heated to 125 to 135 degrees Far. kills very quickly any 
insect that is put into it, but is harmless to plants unless they are 
kept submerged for a long time. Lice, especially those on roots, 
may often be killed conveniently with hot water. 
SUBSTANCES THAT KILL BY BEING INHALED. 
There are two insecticides of this sort that are of special 
importance. As both are destructive to vegetable life also, care 
must be had in their use that they are not applied in strengths that 
will destroy the plants. It is important that tents, rooms, or other 
receptacles in which objects are placed for fumigation, be as nearly 
air tight as possible. 
28. CARBON BISULFIDE; “ FUMA.” 
This is a clear, extremely volatile liquid with a very disagree¬ 
able odor. The fumes are heavier than air, so that it is always best 
to expose the liquid in the upper part of a building, or other 
receptacle, containing objects to be treated. The fumes are explosive 
also when mixed with air, so that great care must be taken not to 
bring fire near them. 
For the purpose of fumigating a building or other inclosed 
space containing growing plants, not over one pint of the liquid to 
1,000 cubic feet of space should be used. For the destruction of 
insects in seeds, carpets or clothing it may be used much stronger. 
To destroy ant hills, thrust a sharp stick down into the hill to 
a depth of eight or ten inches and then remove it and pour in two 
or three ounces of the carbon bisulfide; fill the hole with earth by 
stamping on it, and then throw over the hill a wet blanket to hold 
down the fumes. Allow the blanket to remain for a half hour at 
least, and the ants will be dead. If the hill is a very large one it 
would be well to make two or three holes for the carbon bisulfide. 
To kill prairie dogs, pour three or four ounces of the liquid on 
a ball of cotton and roll the latter down the prairie dog hole and 
quickly fill the mouth of the hole with dirt. 
