OP INSECTS, &C. ^;57 



if the ground be hard, and with it bore a hole 

 close to the side of the wall, and as deep as the 

 ground will permit. By stirring the earth you will 

 set the Ants in motion ; then work your stake or 

 crow round the sides of the hole, making them as 

 smooth as you can : the Ants will come to the 

 mouth of the hole, and tumble in, and, by the 

 shape of the hole and smoothness of its sides, will 

 be prevented from climbing up again. When you 

 see a great many in the bottom of the whole pour 

 in some water from a watering-pot ; and thus you 

 may drown thousands of them. It is to be 

 observed, that there must be several holes made, 

 according to the length of the wall. 



This is an easy and simple way to get rid of 

 Ants. Some are of opinion that they do good, by 

 eating the Aphides from off the trees ; but I have 

 always thought that they do much more hurt than 



i^ood. 



C5 



You may likewise destroy many of them by 

 mixing quick-lime with soot, and laying it along 

 their roads where you see them thickest : but 

 where you can come at their nests, the best way 

 is to put a piece of quick-lime into it, and pour as 

 much water over the lime as will slake it, the heat 

 of which will destroy them : when you have 

 poured in the water, cover the lime with a turf or 

 a little earth, which will render it more effectual, 

 by confining the heat. You may slake the lime 

 with a mixture of urine and soap-suds, which 

 will render it still more effectual. 



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