UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE I! II O n ,# ^Q 
 Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine uUL C * J 
 Washington, D. C, 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 b. e. p. Q..J+75 STATE plant board 
 
 ADMINISTRATIVE INSTRUCTIONS 
 FUMIGATION OF ONIONS BY METHYL BROMIDE AS A CONDITION OF 
 CERTIFICATION OF ONIONS MOVING BY REFRIGERATOR CAR FROM THE 
 AREA LISTED IN REGULATION 5 OF QUARANTINE NO. US 
 
 (Approved July lU, 193S; effective July 19, 1938) 
 
 Regulation 5, Sec. B, paragraph (6) of the Japanese "beetle quarantine 
 
 (No. Ug) authorizes the issuance of certificates for the interstate movement of 
 
 onions via refrigerator car from the area listed in that regulation to points 
 
 outside the regulated areas "between June 15 and October 15 when the onions have 
 
 "been fumigated in the car, when deemed necessary in the Judgment of the in» 
 
 spector and when the doors and hatches of the car have "been tightly closed or 
 adequately screened under the supervision of an inspector. 
 
 TREATMENT AUTHORIZED 
 
 The treatment described herein has "been found to he effective against 
 the Japanese "beetle and such treatment is authorized as a has is for certifica- 
 tion of onions moving to points outside the regulated areas "between June 15 and 
 Octohor 15 via refrigerator car when such treatment is carried out under the 
 supervision of an inspector and in a manner satisfactory to him. 
 
 TREATMENT METHOD 
 
 Fumigation of onions in dry refrigerator cars with methyl "bromide at a 
 dosage of 2 pounds per 1,000 cubic feet of space, including the space occupied 
 by the onions and hunkers of the cars, for a period of 2 hours, during which time 
 the car shall remain tightly closed with the plugs in place in the ventilator 
 hatches. The temperature within the car when fumigated shall he not less than 
 70° F. Provision shall he made for circulating the mixture of air and fumigant 
 in the car for as long a time as is deemed necessary by the inspector. At the 
 end of the fumigation period the hatches shall he opened, the plugs removed, 
 screens placed in the hatch openings, and the car shipped under standard ventila- 
 t ion. 
 
 In authorizing the movement of onions fumigated according to the require- 
 ments stated above, it is to he understood that no liability shall attach either 
 to the United States Department of Agriculture or to any of its emplovces in the 
 event of injury. 
 
 Caution: Methyl bromide is a gas at ordinary temperatures. It is 
 colorless and practically odorless in concentration used for the fumigation of 
 onions. It is a poison, and the operator should use an approved gas mask when 
 exposed to the gas at concentrations used in fumigation, and when opening the 
 hatches for ventilating the cars. The car should not be entered until it is 
 well aerated. 
 
 LEE A. STRONG, 
 Chief. Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine. 
 
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