RAVAGES OF WEEVIL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25735, 5 January 1945, Page 3

RAVAGES OF WEEVIL

PROTECTIVE DUST DISCOVERED LONDON, Jan. 3. Dr J. A. Kitchener, a scientist in the Department of Physical Chemistry at the Imperial College of Science and Technology, London, has discovered a method by which the world’s grain may be protected from the ravages of the weevil. Dr Kitchener early in 1940 began experiments on different dusts. He found one which makes the insects die from lack of water. The method is not new. The Egyptians used silica dust 4000 years ago, - but it was injurious to the grain. Dr Kitchener has discovered a form of non-poisonous alumina, only 21b of which are needed per ton of gram. The alumina was tested on wheat, maize, cocoa, and other dry foods, and satisfactory experiments were also conducted in the United States, Canada, and Australia. Large-scale utilisation of ths process is awaiting adequate quantities of alumina at commercial prices.