UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT 0? AGRICULTURE Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine Washington, D. C. B. E, P. Q. 503 November 21, 1939 Sec. 301-72-5c Administrative Instructions- Modifying the restrictions of the white- fringed "beetle quarantine "by authorizing treatment by methyl bromide solution of balled nursery stock not larger "than six (6) inches in thickness It has been determined after investigation by the Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine of the United States Department of Agriculture, that balled nursery stock can safely and successfully be treated with methyl bromide solution for the control of larvae of the white-fringed beetle (Pantomorus leucoloma 3oh. and P. pere- grinus Buch. ). TREATMENT AUTHORIZED Under the provisions of Regulation 5(a) (Sec. 301.72-5) supple- mental to Notice of Quarantine No. 72 (Sec. 301.72), the Chief of the 3ureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine hereby authorizes as a pre- requisite to certification, the following method of treatment for balled plants, when carried out under the supervision of an authorized inspector of the United States Department of Agriculture. TYPE OF MATERIAL AUTHORIZED The treatment shall be applied only to plants in soil balls not greater than six (6) inches in diameter or greater than six (6) inches in thickness when not spherical. THKATK3NT METHOD (a) The soil balls around the roots of plants must be buried in sand and plunged in boxes or trays approximately one foot deep, which are watertight. (b) A 2-inch space filled with eand shall be provided between the soil balls, also above and beneath them. (c) Such soil balls shall be treated with a solution of methyl bromide and alcohol at a concentration of 0.3 percent methyl bromide and 0.6 percent denatured ethyl alcohol by volume in water. The solu- tion is to be prepared by first mixing the methyl bromide air: alcohol together and then adding this mixture to the wcter c-nd mixing thoroughly, UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA Ilillll 3 1262 09312 1613 -2- (d) The aqueous solution of methyl "bromide and f&cohpl shall then "be applied evenly over the surface of the sand around the plants at the rate of ko gallons per 100 square foet of surface area "by means of a sprinkling can or sprayer^ (e) After the required dosage has been applied, the soil balls shall remain embedded in the sand for a period of 2k hours. (f) The temperature of the soil balls during the treatment shall not be lov/er than 70° F. DISCLAIMER There has br~en no opportunity to tost this treatment on many varieties of plants, and it is understood that no liability shall attach either to the United States Department of Agriculture or its employees in the event of injury to either plants or operators, CAUTION Methyl bromide is a gas at ordinary temperatures. It is color- less and practically odorless, and in preparing the solution the operator should wear an approved gas mask, (Sec, 301,72-5) [3. E, P, Q. 503 , November 21, 1939] L3E A. STRONG, Chief, 3urenu of Entomology and Plant Quarantine