The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-07-09
GARDEN ANTS
Don't Injure Plants And Do
Little Harm

washington, IL. W., July Z, An un-
usual number of complaints have
been received this year by the de-
been received this year by the
United States Department of Agri-
culture from persons who say that
ants are injuring their lawns and gar
dens. AS 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 some
what unsightly and on this account it
may be desirable in some cases to de-
stroy them.
Where there is only small area
to be covered the simplest method is
to drcnch the nests with boiling wa
ter. Another simpler remedy Is to
spray the lawn with kerosene emul-
sion or with very strong soap wash
prepared by dissolving any common
laundry soap in water at the rate of
1 pound or 1-2 pound to gallon of
water. Such methods are particularly
well adapted to small lawns and for
the ordinary lawn ant.
For larger ant colonies of other
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 12 ounce for small nest to
or 3 ounces or more for large one.
An oil can with long spout is a con-
venient instrument as it can be in
serted into the nests and the liquid
injected without its being brought
close to the operators nose, for the
fumes of bisulphide Of carbon, al
though not poisonous, are nauseating.
To facilitatee the entrance into the
nest of the chemical, the ant hole can
be enlarged with sharp stick or iron
rod. After the bisulphide of carbon
has been injected, the opening should
be closed by pressure of the foot in
order to retain the bisulphide. This
will penetrate slowly throughout the
underground channels of the nest and
kill all the inmates. 1t is important
to remember that while bisulphde is
perfectly harmless if kept away from
all fire, it is very inflammable and
may, under certain circumstances, ex-
plode when ignited.
Except for the unsightly appear
ance of their nests, however, the lawn
ants do not do appreciable 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 matter of fact, it is not the plants
that attract the ants, but plant lice.
These tiny creatures excrete a sweet
liquid of which ants are very fond
and which they collect without injur-
ing 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, shell
ter them through the winter, and re-
turn them to suitable plants in the
spring very much as men are accus-
toned 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 rare
ly and, on the whole, may be said to
do no harm of any kind except in SO
far as they lessen the attractive ap-
pearance of the lawn. On the other
hand, it is quite possible that by
bringing up from the lower depths
sand and earth they may distinctly in
crease fertility by forming a top
dressing or soil mulch, and at the
same time permit better aeration of
the earth.