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into which they fall or by dousing them with hot water. A few of the 

 common forms of traps and the methods of using them are here 

 described. 



A French trap consists of a box containing an attractive bait, the 

 cover of which is replaced by four glass plates inclined toward the cen- 

 ter. The roaches fall from the covering glasses into the box and are 

 unable to escape. A similar trap used in England is described by 

 Westwood. It consists of a small wooden box in wdiich a circular hole 

 is cut in the top and fitted with a glass ring, so that it is impossible 

 for the roaches to escape. This trap is baited nightly, and the catch 

 thrown each morning into boiling water. A simpler form of trap, 

 which Mr. F. C. Pratt informs the writer is very successfully used in 

 London, England, consists of any deep vessel or jar, against which a 

 number of sticks are placed, and bent over so that they project into the 

 interior of the vessel for a few inches. The vessel is partially filled 

 with stale beer or ale, a liquid for which roaches seem to have a special 

 fondness. In the morning these vessels are found charged with great 

 quantities of dead and dying roaches, which have climbed up the 

 inclined sticks and slipped off into the vessel. We have had fair suc- 

 cess with this last method against the Oriental roach in Washington, 

 but against the more wary and active Croton bug it is comparatively 

 worthless. 



Mr. Tepper, who has been quoted above in relation to the habits of 

 roaches in Australia, gives a simple remedy which he says has proved 

 very efficacious wherever employed. He mixes plaster of Paris 1 part 

 and flour 3 or 4 parts in a saucer and places it where the roaches 

 abound, with another flat plate near by containing pure water, both 

 supplied with several bridges to give easy access, and one or two thin 

 boards floating on the water touching the margin. The insects readily 

 eat the mixture, become thirsty and drink, when the plaster sets and 

 clogs the intestines. The insects disappear in a few weeks, the bodies 

 no doubt being eaten by the survivors. 



Traps of the sort described above, placed in pantries and bakeries, 

 will unquestionably destroy great quantities of roaches, and keep them 

 perhaps more effectively in check than the use of the troublesome 

 insect powders or the distribution of poisoned baits, especially as the 

 latter are so often ineffective. 



Approved : 



James Wilson, 



Secretary of Agriculture. 



Washington, D. C, June 23, 1908. 



[Cir. 51] 



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