POWDER-POST DAMAGE BY LYCTUS BEETLES. 19 



sene oil does not affect the application of shellac or varnish; the 

 only etTect on finishing is to make it more difficult to stain kerosene- 

 treated sapwood to match the rest. 



(2) Mixtures of 3 parts creosote and 1 part kerosene oil; 3 parts 

 kerosene oil and 1 part creosote (to obtain a deeper penetration) ; and 

 1 part creosote and 3 parts naphtha have been used successfully. 

 The wood should be dipped in vats of preservative, preferably heated 

 by coils of steam pipe, or the preservative may be applied hot with a 

 brush. Of course^ viixtures containing kerosene oil should not he 

 heated over a direct -fire. 



(3) Thorough steaming of the infested wood in a tight room or 

 under pressure. Steaming under pressure weakens and discolors 

 the Avood and should not be applied to wood to be used for fine finish 

 or where strength is essential. 



(4) Subjecting seasoned wood to temperatures over 200° F. in dry 

 kilns. 



(5) Fumigation of infested wood in tightly closed drying rooms 

 with the fumes of sulphur at the time of the emergence of the adult 

 beetles. This has been recommended for killing the beetles and 

 preventing egg laying. 



The objection to treating infested inaterial lies in the fact that if 

 it is once infested it may he damaged beyond repair and not safe 

 for future use. A break might result in a serious accident and reflect 

 on the reputation of the manufacturer or distributor. 



PREVENTION OF DAMAGE. 



By the adoption of the following system of inspection, classifica- 

 tion, and the proper disposal of the seasoned sap wood of hardwood 

 stock, loss by powder-post beetles can be prevented : 



(1) Inspect material in yards and storehouses annually, especially 

 stock two or more years old. preferably in November and P>bruary. 

 Then (a) sort out and burn material showing evidence of powder- 

 post attack and (b) burn all useless sap wood material. 



(2) Classify all dry or seasoned hardwood stock as (a) hickory, 

 ash, oak, etc.; (b) heartwood, pure sapwood, and part sapwood ; and 

 (c) according to age, that is, the number of years it has been seasoned. 



(3) Utilize or sell oldest stock on hand first. Prevent the accu- 

 mulation of old stock; in other words., keep the stock moving. 



(4) Prevent the accumulation of refuse material in which the 

 insects can breed. 



(5) Use only heartwood piling sticks in lumber piles. 



(6) Inspect all new stock to prevent the introduction into lumber 

 yards and storehouses of powder-posted material. 



(7) If the beetles have not been eliminated from the yards and 

 storehouses, stock that has been seasoned longer than eight months, 



