Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-10-26
ATTACKS Of WHITE ANTS
Primarily Attack Woodwork and
Weaken Portions of Buildings.
Also Eat into Numerous Articles. Iu-
Guiding Books. Documents, Objects
Mndc Of Pastcbonrd or Wood
Pulp and Food.

Methods of combating tcrm,tcs or
white ants' and guarding against their
destructive activities in woodwork,
books, stored papers and other material.
trees, nursery stock, and garden and field
crops arc explained in Farmers Bulletin
$50, recently issued by the United States
department Of agriculture.
The insocts. which are not ants aud
only superhcialy resemble them, pr-
MARTY attack Woodwork and cause great
est damage by Weakening or destroying
portions Of buildings and Other wood.
en- structures in contact with tn"
ground. On recently cleared land or any
other soil containing dccnying wood.
however, they may prove destructive to
growing plants. Tho insects also eat into
numerous articles stored on damp wood
en- shelves or undor conditions otherwise
attractive 20 e ON. Articles attacked in
this way include hooks, documents, OBJ
jects made Of pastcboard or wood pulp
cloth, clothing. leather products. and
food substances.
/ Tcrnites may Caus. damage about tho
home for long periods without the knowl-
edge of the owner. They live in colonies
in dead stumps or in other decaNin wood
and enter the woodwork Of buildings un-
der ground where timber Is in contact
with the soil or through cracks in con-
crete. They often dcsttov large portions
of the interior of pillars and other wood
on members without giving any indication
of their presence.
! When termtes are found 10 he present
it is usually through noticing the annual
emeracnce Of the dying members Of the
colony at swarming time in the spring
The place of emergence should be noted,
as this indicates the approximate loca-
ton of the infested tmbers. The pres
ence Of small branching tubes of earth
on stone or metal. serving as passage
ways to wood, may be another indication
that termites are OF work in q building.
Either preventive or combetive meas.
urcs may be taken against the inroads OF
termites. In all new building operations
care should be taken that no untreated
timber is in contact with the ground oil
is set in wet concrete. The latter con
diton is not a protection since the con.
crete often cracks ana the insects may
gain entrance through the crevices. II
wood must be placed in contact with the
earth. only timber treated with some such
substance as coal tar creosote should be
used. Cellar FLOORS of concrete should
join the walls in a curve to guard against
cracks If buildings are constructed
without cellars the wooden flooring should
be raised we'll above the ground.
If termites are discovered in woodwork
it will he necessary usually to remove tn.
damaged timbers and replace them By
stone brick work. or treated wood
The ground at the approximate entrance
passage of the insects and any eartt
tubes discovered should be drenchcd witt
kerosene oil. Infested timbcrs also may
be drenched with the oil.
Books. documents. and other stored me
terial can be insured aaginst attack by
the termites by keeping them away from
warm, moist locations while in wooder
containers. The insects may be driver
from such material by spreading it In tbs
sun. IF all connection between the stor
age place and damp earth is cut the in
sects will not return. Termites are es
pecially likely to attack the wood o
greenhouses where warmth and moistur.
are the rule. Steps similar 10 those de
scrihed for other buildings should h
adopted to rid infested greenhouses of tn.
insects. Supports for flower benches ma,
be sawed off near the ground and mad
TO rest on bricks or stone. If the term
ties are in the soil they may be killed II
many instances by applications of carlo,
bisulphd. Plants may be sprayed effec
lively with a five per cent. solution o
kerosene emulsion. In order to proven
ATTACKS ny lermlteS on living treeeS IN
tree surgery method of treating scars AM
dead limbs and spots is recommended.
Nursery stock may be attacked by ter
mites if planted on recently cleared land
Such locations, therefore, should b.
avoided. Care should be taken not t
permit the roots Of the young trees q
, dry out before planting. as such weak
ened stock is liable to attack Dana g
to field crops by termites may be pre-
, vented by late fall blowing and crop TO
, tatiOn