226 AGKICULTURAL COLLEGE BULLETINS. 



they will not drip, then ironed till dry. To secure the best results one 

 ought to have a dozen or more irons. I have found that this thoroughly 

 done is most deadly to the carj)et moth larva, and surely the intensely 

 heated steam penetrating every fiber of the carpet, and to every crevice of 

 the floor, must sound the knell of every larval carpet beetle that feels its 

 deadly presence. I have tried this on delicately tinted carpets, and while it 

 was delightfully efficient in destroying insects, it did no injury whatever to 

 the carpet. The only caution here then is to make thorough work; he sure 

 of a full head of steam. 



Another remedy of which I should feel quite certain would be to brush, by 

 use of a paint brush, the floor under the carjDct with a strong solution of 

 corosive sublimate, the bi-chloride of mercury. This should be made as 

 follows : Four parts (by weight) bi-chloride of mercury, one of chloride of 

 ammonia (sal ammoniac), and fifty parts of water. This is surely fatal to 

 bed-bugs, Cimex lectularius, and certainly these carpet beetles can hardly be 

 possessed of more lives than are the bed-bugs. The objection to this 

 remedy is the virulency of the poison. Of course with care there is no 

 danger ; but so many of us are by nature and practice so culpably careless 

 that to have such a poison in the house is hardly safe. 



I have reason to believe that tarred paj)er under the carpets, napthaline, 

 the crystals of naptha, kerosene oil or gasoline would each and all kill the 

 insects if freely used under the carpets. There are two objections to their 

 use. They are all more or less offensive as to odor, while the last two from 

 their inflammable nature might do great harm. I have used the napthaline 

 with marked effect. And although it does scent a room thoroughly it cojild 

 be removed after effecting a cure, and the carpet and room so aired as to 

 greatly lessen this objection. Kerosene would surely kill all insects that it 

 touched, but its tendency to stain the carpet, and its persistent odor might 

 be considered serious objections to its iiso. Gasoline — much better than 

 naptha, as it never stains and quickly evaporates — is also a sure cure, and 

 great caution to thoroughly ventilate before any fire is brought near would 

 render its use safe.- If used thoroughly in a house, no fire should be allowed 

 even in a distant room till thorough ventilation, as shown by the absence 

 of the characteristic odor, had removed all the explosive vapor. As an 

 accident by the use of gasoline might be most terrible it should only be used 

 with the greatest care. 



In case furniture is infested, the free use of gasoline would be the safest 

 and surest remedy. In this case, the articles to be treated could be removed 

 to an outbuilding, and should not be returned- to the house till the liquid 

 had thoroughly evaporated. 



Woolen garments not in use may be j)rotected by putting them in per- 

 fectly close boxes. As the insects are so small, we could not be sure that 

 they were excluded excej)t that we paste paper over any crack, as where the 

 cover meets a box or trunk. 



In such close quarters, camphor gum, which keeps clothes moths away, is 

 said to make no impress upon these beetles. I believe napthaline, which I 

 am told not only keeps the Dermestes lardarius away but actually destroys it 

 when once at work, would also serve to j^i'otect against the carpet beetle. 

 The trouble with this would be the persistent odor. Yet it is possible that 

 if it should be closely wrapped in a cloth it would still keep the beetles out, 

 and yet would not so scent the clothing that it would not soon pass off upon 

 exposure. , 



