East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1915-07-05
GARDEN ANTS DO BUT
LITTLE HARM ON LAWN
DO NOT INJURE PLANTS AND
THEY MAY BE EASILY cox
TROLLED.

" 'EA'Aii-NI IN July An un-
usual number Of complaints have
been received this year BY the depart
ment Of agriculture from persons who
say that ants are injuring their
lawns and gardens. As a matter of
/ fact, these ants do little harm and
the injury that is attributed to them
is usually caused by something else.
In large numbers. however. the small
conical nests which they build on
lawns are somewhat uhsfghtly and on
this account It may be desirable in
some cases to destroy them.
Where there is only a small area
to be covered the simplest method Is
to drench the nests with boiling wa
ter Another simple remedy is to
spray the lawn with kerosene emui-
sion or with very strong soap wash
prepared by dissolving any common
laundry soap in water at the rate Of
one pound to a gallon Of water. Such
methods are particularly well adapt
ed to small lawns and for the ordi-
nary little lawn ant.
species. bisulphide of carbon, a chem
ical which can be purchased at any
drug store, will be found effective.
This substance can be placed in the
nest by means of an oil can or small
syringe, the quantity required vary.
ing from l-2 ounce for a small nest
to 2 or 3 ounces or more for a large
one. An oil can with a long spout
is a convenient instrument as it can
be inserted into the nests and the H.
luid injected without its being
brought close to the operators nose,
for the fumes Of bisulphide of car
bon although not poisonous are nau-
seating To facilitate the entrance
into the nest OF the chemical the ant
hole can be enlarged with a sharp
stick or iron rod After the bisul-
phide OF carbon has been injected.
the opening should be closed by pres
sure Of the foot in order to retain the
bisulphide. This will penetrate slow
ly throughout the underground chan
nels Of the nest and kill all the in
mates. 1t Is important to remember
that while bisulphide is perfectly
harmless II kept away from all fire, It
is very inflammable and may under
certain circumstances, explode when
ignited
Except for the unslghtly appearance
OF their nests, however, the lawn
ants do no apDreciable harm. They
are frequently noted on roses and on
other ornamental and garden plants,
and it is naturally supposed that they
are doing harm to these. As a mat !
ter OF fact, 1t Is not the plants that
attract the ants, but plant lice. These
tiny creatures excrete sweet liquid |
Of which the ants are very fond and
which they collect without injuring
the plant lice. For this reason
plant lice are frequently termed "ant
cows The analogy Is emphasized
by the fact that ants have been
known TO take plant lice into their
nests, shelter them through the win
ter. and return them 10 suitable plants
in the spring very much as men are
accustomed to feed and shelter cows
throughout the winter, putting them
on pasture with the coming OF the
spring This is the only way in which
ants can be said to inJure plants.
They enter houses very rarely and.
on the whole, may be said to do no
harm Of any kind except in so far as
they lessen the attractive appearance
81 the lawn. On the other hand, II
Is quite possible that by bringing up
from the lower depths sand and
Earth they may distinctly Increase
fertility by forming a top dressing or
soil mulch, and at the same time
better aeration Of the earth.