Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-06-20
Prepare Against Mosquitoes
BY Frederic J. Haskin

known to every smoker. Many smokers
firmly believe that they are let alone
by insect pests. even when they are
not smoking, because OF the nicotine
in their bodies. ~. r- -......
The best way to smoke mosquitoes
out Of a room is by burning Pyrethrum
powders, known also as Dalmatian in
sect powder, Persian insect powder,
buhach and perhaps other names.
These powders are the finely ground
flowers of two species of plants, both
belonging to the genus pyrethrum.
The flowers contain volatile oil,
which is the constituent effective
against insects and the powder rapidly
deteriorates with age and exposure.
Also, some of these powders are made
by grinding up the entire plant, which
weakens them. TO be effective, there
fore, pyrethrum powders should be
both fresh and pure.
BY burning this powder in room at
! night, you can easily rid 1t of mosqu!-
toes provided you close the doors and
windows and let the smudge do its
work thoroughly. The mosquitoes will
fall to the floor supplied and may
easily be swept out. The best way to
burn the powder is to mold it into little
balls while damp and light these when
they have dried. Another good way to
use 1t is to place the powder on a
screen over a kerosene lamp. The
volatile oil will in this way be dissipat-
ed and will be effective against mosqui-
toes without creating a very strong
odor. Experience has shown that in
order to clear house Of mosquitoes
, the powder must be burned at the rate
, of about one pound to every one thous-
and cubic feet of space.
Another good mosquito gas Is made
from equal parts by weight of carbolic
acid crystals and gum camphor. The
acid crystals are melted over slow
heat and poured over the camphor.
making clear volatile liquid with
pleasant odor, which with keep for
long time in tight jar. Three ounces
of this liquid allowed to vaporize over
a lamp will rid thousand cubic feet
of mosquitoes. but 1t must be used with
care. The substance itself Is inflanl-
mable The vapor Is not explosive, but
it will produce headache il breathed
freely and II very dense. may be dan
gerous. This device therefore, Is not
to be used In the bed room at night.
but to rid house of mosquitoes before
it is occupied.
The burning of two pounds of sui
phur for every thousand cubic feet OF
space is very effective against mosqui-
toes-and everything else that gets in
to the smoke.
The hunting and trapping Of the
adult mosquito although not generally
practiced, are effective in some in
stances In many parts of the United
States an effective weapon against the
house invading mosquito is made by
mailing tin cup to the end of long
stick A spoonful of kerosene is then
placed in the cup. Most of the mos
uuitoes in a room will be found in the
daytime roosting on the ceiling. The
hunter stealthily places the can over
his victim. which tries to fly and falls
into the kerosene. In few minutes
it is possible to rid room Of mosqui-
toes in this way. III
In India. box trap is used for mos
uuitoes 1t is about foot square, lined
with dark green balze, and the only
opening is small round hole. This
make an attractive retreat for the
mosquito who likes cool dark hiding
place during the day. He is driven out
OF all other hiding places in the room
by means of busters and tobacco
smoke. and soon large part Of the
mosquito population is in the box. A
spoonful OF .benzine is then introduced
and the lid closed. AS many as SO VIC
Tins are sometimes killed in single
dav. according to reliable reports.
The really effective way to deal with
the mosquito is to remove his breeding
place. In shallow water the eggs are
laid and the larvae Matched. The abol-
ition Of breeding places is generally
matter OF engineering; and is not with
in the scope OF this article. Every In
dividual, however, should exercise the
utmost care that there are no mosquito
nurseries about his dwelling. Remem-
Der that mosquitoes will breed in any,
bit Of still water. A pitcher left filled
in an unused guest room may fill the
house with the pests. So may for
gotten vase of water. Rain barrels
must be screened. The best way Of
dealing with ornamental fountains is
to have few gold fish in them; for
fish will completely destroy the larvae
wherever they can reach them. In, a
word, you must take measure to either
cover every bit of stagnant water, or
destroy any wrigglers that may appear
in It. ,.-. -. t.