8 FARMERS’ BULLETIN 659, 
They are then gone over carefully with a steel comb and packed away 
in large boxes lined with heavy tar roofing paper, or inclosets similarly 
lined with this paper. An examination is made every two to four 
weeks, and, if necessary at any time, any garment requiring it is 
rebeaten and combed. During many years of experience in this 
climate, which is especially favorable to moth damage, this merchant 
has prevented any serious injury from moths. 
COLD STORAGE. 
The best method of protection, and the one now commonly adopted 
by dealers in carpets, furs, etc., is cold storage. In all large towns 
anyone can avail himself of this means by patronizing storage com- 
panies, and safety will be guaranteed. 
The most economical degree of cold to be used as a protection 
from clothes moths and allied insects destructive to woolens and furs 
has been definitely determined by the careful experiments carried out 
at the instance of Doctor Howard by Dr. Albert M. Read, manager of 
a large storage warehouse company in Washington, D. C. These 
experiments demonstrated that a temperature maintained at 40° F. 
renders the larval or other stages of these insects dormant and is thor- 
oughly effective. The larve, however, are able to stand a steady 
temperature as low as 18° F. without apparently experiencing any ill 
results. Doctor Read’s experiments have extended over two years, 
and his later results as reported by Doctor Howard are very interest- 
ing. They have demonstrated that while a temperature kept uni- 
formly at 18° F. will not destroy the larve of Tineola biselliella or of 
the black carpet beetle,’ ‘‘an alternation of a low temperature with a 
comparatively high one invariably results in the death of the larve 
of these two insects. For example, if larve of either which have been 
kept at a temperature of 18° F. are removed to a temperature of 40° 
to 50° F., they will become slightly active and, when returned to the 
lower temperature and kept there for a little time, will not revive upon 
a retransfer to the warmer temperature.”’ 
It is recommended, therefore, that storage companies submit goods 
to two or three changes of temperature as noted before placing them 
permanently in an apartment kept at a temperature of from 40° to 
42° F. The maintenance of a temperature lower than the last indi- 
cated is needless and a wasteful expense. Where the cost of cold 
storage is not an item to be seriously considered, the adoption of this 
method for protection of goods during the hot months is strongly 
recommended. 
1 Attagenus piceus Oliv. 
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WASHINGTON : GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICH : 1915 
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