South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-02-21
HOW To KEEP THE
WHITE ANTS FROM
HURTING TIMBER
Much of Serious Damage Done
BY Termite in Large Cities of
North May Be Avoided BY
Thorough Treatment.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1s.-The raw
ages Of the white ant which because
of its insidious work in timber and
wood structures is one of the most
destructive insects Of North America.
can be limited by comparatively
simple measures. according TO the en-
tomologists Of the United States de-
partment Of agriculture. This pest,
Known scientifically as the termite.
attacks bridge tintbers wells, silos,
telegraph poles, bean poles, mine
props, fence posts and railroad ties.
and the sudden crumbling OF wharves.
caVing In of mines, and the settling
IN of floors are sometimes directly due
TO its hidden behring's. Such large
cities as New York, Cleveland, ST.
Louis, and Washington have known
such serious depredations, and dam
age occasionally occurs as far north
as Massachusetts and Michigan
Throughout the southern states the
termites' ravages are even more gem
eral
Some Of the recommendations OF
the departments entomologist for
dealing with this pest are as follows.
Forest products in contact with the
ground should be impregnated with
cOal-tar creOsOte. which is a perma-
nent preventive against attack by our
native termites. COal-tar creosOte has
many properties which would recon-
mend its use in this respect. for IL is
also a fungicide and. being insoluble
in water, Will not leach out in wet
locations. These requirements fur
lnish objections 10 many chemicals
that otherwise are very effective in
| secticides
Various Methods Available.
The various methods OF suDer-
, ticially treating timber as by char
ring, by brushing, or by dipping with
various chemical preseryatiVes
among which are creosotes. carbo-
| lineums, etc, have proven TO be tenn
pOrarily effective. i'm preventing at
tack, if the work is thoroughly done.
If not thoroughly done. termites en-
ter through the untreated or imper-
fectly treated portions, especially
through weathering checks and knots.
Where the bases Of poles. mine props
etc, are left untreated termites enter
thegtimber from below. and, avoiding
! the treated portions. come up through
the interior. Charred timber is eff
fective against termite attack for a
| period less than a year, although IL
I is not seriously damaged at the end
/ OF one year II will readily be seen
/ that neither brushing nor spraying
! the exterior after placement. as is
/ Soiitllilto pidNllCtuf u tIttAlNt III
! keeping out termites since the pOr-
] ton that sets in the ground could not
] be treated, and il is usually at this
/ point that termite attack occurs
Before treating timber with chem
! ical preservatives especially where
| the bush method is employed. il is
: essential that the timber he thor
! oughly seasoned. otherwise penetra-
ton by the preservative viii be re-
| tarded.
Some Articles Unreliable
Many patented wood preservatives.
advertised as effective against wood
! borers. often merely contain simple
! personalities. as for instance, linseed
oil, to which a slight odOr OF oil Of
citronella has been impaired. or COB
! tain simple poisons. For timber 10 be
set in the ground. brush coatings with
! linseed oil are not effective against
termites
Impregnation with chlorinated
naphthalene may prove effective
against termites. as a preservative for
woodwork. in interior finish. where il
| is important that the preservative
should not sweat" out. or stain the
wood. Treated wood blocks buried in
the ground with termite-infest logs
were not attacked after a test OF
| nearly six months. ImpregnatiOn
with paraffin was was not effective I'm
J the bureau OF entomology's expert
( ments. Il the wood Is not IN contact
with the ground. impregnation treat
| ments with bichlorid OF mercury and
| zinc Chord are effective The rner-
! curry and zinc in this form are both
soluble in water.