THE PROTECTION OF TIMBER AGAINST WHITE ANTS. 227 



3S. The Protection of Timber against White Ants. 



Various methods have been suggested at different times to 

 protect timber against the attacl< of white ants (termites). We 

 note the following as apparently efficacious : — 



I. Blue Oil. 

 According to the Royal Engineer Journal, it has been found 

 that a treatment with "blue oil" protects wood against the 

 attack of white ants besides acting as a preservative generally. 

 The specification governing the supply of "blue oil " to the 

 War Department contains the following provisions : — 

 {a) The oil to be a shale product. 



{b) Its specific gravity (at 60° F.) to be 0873 to 0-883. 

 (/) Its flashing temperature to be not lower than 275° F. 

 (close test). 

 An extract from the report of a trial of the " blue oil " 

 treatment of wood as a protective measure against the white 

 ant is appended hereto. 



"The boxes treated with blue oil have been placed during the 

 wet season in various positions in the open, and there is 

 no sign of their having been attacked by white ants, 

 although a quantity of timber in close proximity to 

 them was considerably damaged by these insects. The 

 blue oil has also acted as a preservative to the wood, 

 which shows no signs of rotting from the extreme damp 

 to which it has been exposed. One of the ammunition 

 boxes was lent to the O.C. West African Frontier Force, 

 for trial in his magazine, which is infested with white 

 ants. On returning the box, he stated — 

 " * Herewith ammunition box and a piece of wood. Both have 

 been lying in the same place ever since you lent me the 

 box. When I placed the box in my magazine, this 

 wood and the ground in close proximity were swarming 

 with white ants. I placed the box under the wood, 

 between it and the ground. Since then the ants have 

 disappeared from the wood and the ground referred 

 to ; the box is not touched.' " 



2. The Powell Process. 

 The Indian Forester announces the discovery of another 

 means of protecting timber from these pests. An experiment 

 with this new preservative was made by Mr H. N. Ridley, 

 curator of the Government Botanical Gardens, Singapore, who 

 placed two pieces of ordinary yellow deal in a position where 



