The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-10-15
EXPERTS TELL
HOW TO FIGHT
WHITE ANTS"
Destroy Woodwork, Books,
Stored Papers and Numer-
GUS Other Articles.

WASHINGTON, Oct. l4-Methods OF
combating termites or white ants"
and guarding against their destruc-
tive activities In woodwork, books,
stored papers and other material,
trees, nursery stock and garden and
field crops are explained in Farmers
Bulletin 759 recently issued by the
United States department Of agrlcul-
ture.
The insects. which are not ants and
only specifically resemble them. pri-
rnariiy attack woodwork and cause
greatest damage by weakening or de-
strOying portions of buildings and 9TH
or wooden structures in contact with
the ground. on recently cleared land
or any other soil containing decaying
wood, however. they may prove de-
structivo to growing plants. The in
sCcts also cat into numerous articles
stored on damp. wooden shelves or
under conditions otherwise attractive
to them. Articles attacked in this
way include books, documents, OBJ
jects made OF pasteboard or wood
pulp, cloth. clothing. leather prod
ucts. and food substances.
Live In DcHd Stumps.
Termitcs may cause damage about
the home for long periods without the
knowledge OF the owner. They live
in colonies in dead stumps or in other
decaying wood and enter the wood
work of buildings under ground where
timber is in contact with the soil or.
through cracks in concrete. They Of
ten destroy large portions of the IN
terror OF pillars and other wooden
members without giving any indica-
ton Of their presence.
When termitcs are found to be pres
ent 1t is usually through noticing the
annual emergence Of the flying mem
bers OF the colony at swarming time
in the spring. The place of emery
ence should he noted. rs this indicates
tho approximate location of the in
tested umbers. The presence Of
small branching tubes Of earth on
stone or metal, serving as passage
ways to wood. may he another indi-
cation that termites are at work in a
building.
Either preventive or combal'vc mea-
surcs may be taken against the IN
roads OF termitcs In all new build
ings operations care should be TAX
en- that no untreatod timber is in con-
tact with the ground or Is set in wet
concrete. The latter condition is not
n protection since the concrete often
cracks and tho insects may gain en-
trance through the creyices. II wood
must he placed in contact with the
earth. only timber treated with some
such substances as coal-tar creosote
should be used. Cellar floors OF con-
crete should Join the walls in curve
to guard against cracks. II the build
ings are constructed without cellars
The wooden flooring should be raised
we'll above the ground.
III termites are discovered in wood
work it will he necessary usually TO-
remove the damaged timbers and re-
place them by stone or brick work or
treated wood. The ground At the ap-
proximate entrance passage Of the in
scots and any earth tubes DIS
covered should be drcnched with kerr
oscne oil. Infested timbcrs also may
be drenched with the oil.
Attack Greenhouse Wood.
Books. documents. and other stored
materials can he insured against at
tack by the tcrmite by keeping them
away from warm. moist locations while
in wooden containers. The insects
may he driven from such material by 4
spreading Il in the sun, II all con-
ncction between the storage place and
damn earth is cut thc insects will not
return.
Tcraitcs arc especially likely TO at
tack the wood of greenhouses where
warmth and moisture are the rule.
s,,,,,- .;r,it,r IN tIn2p described for