The Republican journal., 1892-01-21
FARM, GARDEN AND HOUSEHOLD
Weapons with which to Fight Bugs.

Weapons with which to Fight ISuSS.
insect pests of the house hold like the
poor. we have always with lis, and Prof
Riley recent lectlue at the Lowell lnsti
tute Boston, ON Little Known Facts about
Well Known Household Pests was, there
fore both timely and interesting to the large
audience which gathered to hear him.
The first insect discussed was the ubiqui-
tous bed bug. The original home of the
pest is probably Southeastern Europe and
the Asiatie and African countries around
the eastern end of the Mediterrane an.
1t was introduced into England at least as
early as 1903. and it doubtless reached
America soon after extensive settlement.
With plenty of food and an even tempera-
tuWe they will multiply with great rapidi-
tv while under contrary conditions repro
tluction may be greatly retarded. Adult
bugs have been known to remain alive for
more than year without single meal
and this fasting capacity is one strong red
son why ii is SO difficult to thoroughly
clear an infested house. For this purpose
benzne is the strongest weapon Finely
sprayed. it will penetrate the mnutest
cracks. and is sure death to the insect in
all its stages. including the EGGS. 1t is
best applied with a hand atomizer and
care should he taken that there is no tire
or artificial light in the room While such
spraying is being done. the VapnI of ben
zine being very explosive.
The little red ,,al is another of the
household pests. which We seem to owe
10 the older civilization of Europe. Ordi-
narily it is not Il pest from the actual loss
which it occasions by consuming food pro-
ducts. but from its inordinate capacity for
getting into things. y house badly in
tested with these creatures is almost unin-
hahitable. They form their nests in al
most any secluded spot inside OF outside
the house. and the first thing to do in
fighting them is to tind out whence they
come If the nest is accessible little
kerosene will end large part, if not all,
of the trouble. Where the nests are out
side, nothing is easier than to find them
and~lestroy the inhabitants with kerosene
or bi-sulphide of carbon The ants are
peculiarly susceptible to the action of py-
rethrum in any FORM be il Persian or Dal-
nation powder or buhach. and free use
of this powder will accomplish much.
Renzine was also recommended as the
best preventive of the ravages of the car
pet beetle. The lecturer then passed to
the consideration of that dread of the
housekeepel, the clothes moth. Illustra-
all of European origin. were given. and
the differences in their habits explain
ed. On the question of remedies the lee
tnrer said: ''During the latter part of
May OF early in June a vigorous campaign
should he entered upon. All carpets.
clothes, cloth-covered furniture, furs and
rugs should be thoroughly shaken and
aired. and ii possible exposed to the sun
light rs Ion. as practicable. If the house
is badly infested. a free use of benzine will
be advisable. The benzine spray will kill
the insect i'll every stage. and it is one of
the few substances which will destroy the
egg. | would. however, repeat the eau
tion as to lis int1ammability.
t'Ihe proper packing away of fur> and
winter clothing daring the summer i Il
serious matter. \ great dead OF unueces-
sary expenditure in the way OF cedar
chests and Wardrobes. and various COM
pounds in the way of powders have been
urged by writer's on these pests. Bnt eN-
pelienee fully proves that after a thor
ough treatment in May OF June garments
may be safely put away ful the rest of the
season with no other protection than
wrapping them closely ill stout paper to
preclude infection through some belated
female. Cloth-cuvered furniture which
is in constant Use Will not be harmed and
the same may 6e said of cloth-lined car
ria@eS. Where such furniture is stored
away in a dark room, Qr where carriages
are lett in dark coach house through the
summer, al least two sprayngs with ben
zine. say once in june and once about AN
gust /, will he advisable.
For cockroachrs and heas a nee use of
pNetInm powder and the utmost pos 81
bic cleanliness were held to be the best