462 JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY [Vol. 5 



If logs are badly infested and the larvsB are well into the wood, it 

 is doubtful if merely barking them would destroy the pests. In such 

 cases it would be better to build skidways in the open above the surface 

 and pile the logs onto them in such a way that the air could get at 

 them from all sides, so as to facilitate seasoning. Care should be taken 

 not to deck them up in tiers, as this interferes with seasoning. Such 

 a method would be more expensive than letting the logs lie on the 

 ground; but would tend to prevent bluing, and would probably kill 

 all borers. 



Another remedy often proposed is to cut dead or infested material 

 and immerse it. This not only prevents all infestation, but kills 

 all larvse already in the wood, and prevents fungus attacks. It is 

 not suitable in the Black Hills, since no natural ponds exist, and the 

 cost of building dams large enough for the storage of large quantities 

 of logs is prohibitive. The running of infested material through 

 a log pond to kill the borers has been suggested. This works if the 

 logs are in the water long enough. The writer has noticed that good 

 sized logs after remaining in the pond at the Lanphere-Hinrich mill 

 for two or three days had live borers at their centers when sawed. 

 Logs would have to remain in the pond until they were thoroughly 

 soaked out, perhaps a week or more, rendering the process slow, and 

 perhaps not possible for any large amount of timber. 



If a systematic attempt were made to apply this method, it might 

 be well to experiment with poisonous solutions in the water, such as 

 copper sulphate or mercuric chloride. These might shorten the time 

 necessary for immersion, and would tend to prevent reinfestation, 

 or fungus attacks. 



Uses for Infested Material. A lumberman frequently finds himself 

 in possession of an amount of infested timber, which he does not 

 wish to lose. What can he do with it? 



It may of course be manufactured into common lumber and sold for 

 what it will bring as "number two common." Or perhaps it may be 

 disposed of as firewood. The demand for both of these is small^ 

 and no large amount of either can be marketed at one time, moreover 

 the profit is small. For it costs as much to handle burned as green 

 timber, and the price on the finished product is from a third to a half 

 lower, in addition to a greater waste in manufacture. 



Railroad ties are sometimes sawed from fire-killed timber, but 

 are not very satisfactory. However, if they could be treated with a 

 timber preservative, they would be more valuable in many cases than 

 green ties. While the larger railroads in the Black Hills have treat- 

 ing plants, they draw their timber supplies mostly from elsewhere. 



