The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-12-16
FUMIGATIoN FOR BUFFALO MOTHS.
The Tackled Down Carpet Habit" Is a
Bad One When 1t Encourages These.

"The tacked-down carpet habit is bad
one from more than one point of view,
says the T. S. department of agricul.
lures entomologist, and the buffalo moth
| Tor carpet BEETLE is only one household
pest that thrives under this securely
| fastened floor covering. In our southern
states this insect is of no Importance as
| a household nuisance. One reason for
this is probably that rugs or movable
squares of carpet or mating are more
generally used in this section.
The housekeeper of the North, eager TO
be rid Of this pest, might well adopt the
rug or square of carpet, which may read
lily be rolled up and examined at all times
and treated if found necessary. This
really seems the most effective way of
combating the buffalo moth. If the
floors are not suitable for polishing
straw mattings laid under the loose car
pet squares will make an attractive APP
pearance. and while not as clearly as the
bare floor will afford fewer places for the
insect than the tackeddow carpet.
Such housekeepers as prefer to keep
their carpets fastened over the entire
floor along with the attendant inconveni
ences must use more strenuous measures
TO be rid of the carpet beetle. Thorough
fumigation with bisulphid of carbon or
sulphur dioxid is the best measure. If
bisulphid OF carbon is used, great care
must be taken that there is no fire in the
house when the fumigation is in progress,
as the gas is very infammable. The VA
por should not be inhaled. The burning
OF sulphur Sulphur dioxid with some sui
phur trioxid) which can be obtained at
any drug store in the form of candles
has been effectively used for many years
to destroy other insect pests, as the bed
bug, and will also kill the buffalo moth
ii the fumigation is thorough. Two
of stick sulphur have proved suf
iicient for every 900 cubic feet of space.
The chief objection 10 sulphur fumigs !
tion arises from the strong bleaching ac |
ton OF the fumes in the presence OF mois- |
ture, and their powerful destructive az
ton on vegetation.
Not only must measures be thorough, |
but they must be long continued for the |
housekeeper whose house has been chosen
as an abode by the buffalo moth. The
annual house cleaning" is not enough in
this instance. If circumstances permit OF 1
but one il should be undertaken in mid
hut two are really needed
In making thorough house cleanings,
The rooms should be attended 70 one at
lime. The carpets should be taken up,
thoroughly beaten. and sprayed out Of u
ioors with benzine, and allowed 10 air for
several hours The rooms themselves
hould h. thoroughly swept and busted,
ne floors washed down with hot water,
ne cracks carefully cleaned out, and
,eroscne or benzine poured into the
racks and SPRAYED under the baseboards.
The extreme inAammability Of benzine.
nd even Of It's yapor, when confined,
hould be remembered and fire carefully
varded against
When the floors are poorly constructed
MI the cracks are wide. il will BE- a good
lea 10 fll the cracks with plaster OF
'aris in a liquid state this viii after
ards set and lessen the number % bar
oring places for the insect Before re-
,ying the carpet tarred roofing pepper
hould be laid upon the hoor. AZ least
round the edges but preferably over the
ntire surface. and when the carpet is re-
I'D il viii he well 90 tack it down ratn-
! lightly. - that ID ran ~ occasionally
fled az the edges and examined for the
resence 81 the insect Later IN The sea
ln II such an examination shows the in-
20 % have made its appearance. = good.
cough somewhat labori0us. remedy con-