SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION L 
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coating is intact. Certain woods, also, are fairly immune, and of these 
the redwood of California is most accessible and seems to have a good 
record. Capt. Geo. P. Ahearn, U. S. Army, reports that California 
redwood has been used for more than twenty-five years in the Philip- 
pines, and has never been known to be injured by white ants. Its use 
in Manila is very general, especially for the construction of cabinets, 
filing cases, etc., where it is desirable to protect valuable papers from 
these insects. 
In the Tropics household furniture, such as stands and bureaus, not in 
daily use can be protected by placing the legs in small vessels contain- 
ing oil. Furniture, furthermore, should not lean against or touch walls, 
especially in houses of wood, and frequent examinations should be 
made of libraries and of stored papers. 




































REMEDIES. 
The presence of flying termites in a building at any time in the spring 
or summer should be followed immediately by a prompt investigation 
to determine the extent of the infestation and the possibilities of fur- 
ther damage. The point of emergence of winged individuals may 
approximately, though not always, indicate the location of the infested 
timbers, and if these can be replaced injury may be checked, or, under 
favorable circumstances, stopped. In some cases thorough and repeated 
drenching of infested timbers, where accessible, with kerosene or some 
other petroleum oil will afford relief, but probably will not stop entirely 
the work of the termites, which, as indicated under the heading of 
‘ Preventives,’’ are constantly recruited from some central colony 
probably distant from the building. The destruction of winged indi- 
viduals as they emerge is of no value whatever. Where the injury is 
confined to books and papers or exposed woodwork and furniture, 
hydroeyanic-acid gas fumigation is to be recommended, exposing if 
possible also, by opening up floors, the infested joists beneath, and 
spreading out the books and opening cases and wardrobes, For descrip- 
tion of the use of hydrocyanic-acid gas see Circular No. 46 of this series. 
It is very rarely possible to find and destroy the external colony, and if 
the remedies noted are not feasible or prove ineffective there is no other 
course but to replace the foundation of the buildings with walls and 
floorings of stone, concrete, or other form of rock composition. In the 
case of the National Museum building in Washington and several pri- 
vate edifices this course was finally adopted, with the result that white 
ants were completely excluded and their work terminated. 
Approved : 
JAMES WILSON, 
Secretary of Agriculture. 
WASHINGTON, D. C., December 30, 1907. Ab—12 
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