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Show LEAVES' horn Y" s mkeSMf ?N-.- 5f-?!o5vrJ!Agg.'ET MAY WILSON ; Foiling the Termites Termites, or so-called "white ants." are destructive insects mostly native which are distributed distribut-ed throughout the country. They are, however, most numerous and destructive in the southern, southwestern south-western and Pacific coast regions, where both the subterranean and nonsubterranean kinds are found. WHERE THEY NEST Some species of termites nest in the earth and in dead and decaying wood. These are the more common and injurious species which attack timbers and trees only through the ground. The nests of some less common forms are excavated in wood and trees. The principal food of termites is cellulose which they obtain from either dead or living vegetation. PREVENTING AND REMEDYING DAMAGE TO WOODWORK If buildings are to be erected on woodland that has been recently cleared, all decaying stumps and logs should be removed and burned. If there is reason to believe, because be-cause of the presence of decaying wood, .that the termites are numerous numer-ous in the earth, the soil should be deeply plowed or disked, and treated treat-ed with chemicals to kill the insects. Effective poisons for this purpose are (1) a 10 per cent solution of sodium arsenate; (2) 1 part coal-tar coal-tar creosote and 3 parts kerosene oil 200 gallons per 1,000 square feet; (this mixture, if it is to be sprayed on, must be strained through burlap before being used) ; (3) 50 per cent disulphide emulsion (1 quart to 50 gallons of water, applied at the rate of 3 pints per square foot). This emulsion is already on the market; (4) orthodichlorobenzene, 100 gallons per 1.000 square feet. PROPER CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS It must be kept in mind that it is not the age of a building which renders it liable to attack it is the manner of its construction. A recent re-cent government bulletin states unequivocally un-equivocally that: "Complete insulation from the ground of all untreated woodwork of buildings is the only effective permanent per-manent remedy against attack by subterranean termites, and the only, relief from their presence. These insects must maintain contact with the ground to obtain the moisture necessary for their existence. When contact with their moisture supply in the earth is cut off, the subterranean subter-ranean insects in the damaged wood, no matter how numerous, soon die." In order to prevent subterranean termites from reaching the woodwork wood-work of buildings, it is necessary to construct the foundations entirely of stone, brick, concrete, or concrete and steel, including the pillars in the basement or cellar. Likewise, the walls, partitions, and flooring in the ground floor or basement should be of concrete. If it is desired, a wooden floor may be laid over this concrete. In buildings where stone, brick, concrete, and similar building materials ma-terials can not be used, timber may be employed provided it has been impregnated with coal-tar creosote. No untreated wood which may be infested with termites, should come in contact with the ground. FAULTY CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION In buying property on which buildings are already built, it must be remembered that even concrete foundations do not necessarily insure in-sure termite protection. Usually the base of the concrete floor is a loose combination of coarse gravel or cinders and cement grout. Over this is laid a layer of solid concrete about two or three inches thick, in which untreated wooden sleepers are laid while it is still moist These sleepers nearly or quite reach the coarse, open conglomerate which is in contact with the earth and to them is nailed the flooring. For sure protection there should be a. layer of solid concrete at least one inch thick between the groat and the wood. It is important to make sure, before you buy property, that such construction con-struction has been used. SOME EVIDENCES OF INFESTATION The emergence of large numbers of flying termites is an indication of infestation, the point of emergence emer-gence indicating the location of the infested timbers. Large numbers of dead winged insects, or frass and insects thrown out where the insects emerge are also evidences of their presence. For further information, send five cents to Superintendent of Documents. Washington. Washing-ton. D. C, asking for Farmers' Bulletin No. 1472. INSECTS AFFECTING LAWNS The insects which generally affect lawns are ants, grubs and earthworms earth-worms though in the Southeast mole crickets are sometimes troublesome. trouble-some. Grubs and crickets may be successfully controlled by the use of arsenate of lead. It should be used in the proportion of five pounds of the arsenate to a bushel of moist sand or soil and the whole spread evenly over 1,000 square feet of lawn. After the lead arsenate has been thus applied, the lawn should be watered. |