AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 121 



then take a clamp, folded sheet or cloth and spread it smoothly 

 over the infested spot and iron it thoroughly with a hot iron. 

 Allow the iron to remain long enough to generate steam suflicient 

 to penetrate the carpet and destroy the insects. If thought desir- 

 able the whole room could be so treated but the benzine method 

 would prove less laborious. Some leave the carpet uatacked and 

 turn the edges back occasionally and examine them carefully. 



c. When you bu^' a new carpet from a local dealer in the 

 infested district, or import one from the larger cities, it would be 

 well to examine it carefully and spray it w^ith benzine before put- 

 ting down. There is no doubt that the pest was introduced in 

 carpets purchased in the cit}' or cities where the pest has been 

 found in the large carpet houses. 



d. The custom of sending carpets to the cleaner has its danger 

 as a cleaning house would be verj^ apt to harbor the pest. When 

 returned, carpets should be sprayed with benzine before putting 

 them down. 



e. Carpet cleaners in the infested district could easil}' arrange 

 to give all carpets a dry hot air or steam bath of from 160° to 200° 

 and thus thoroughly disinfect them after they are cleaned. 



/. Carpets to be stored for the summer should be thoroughly 

 beaten, disinfected b}^ spraying with benzine and put into a tight 

 box, the cracks of which have been previously sprayed w^ith ben- 

 zine. A box can be made tight by pasting paper over the cracks. 

 Some line boxes with tarred paper and sprinkle uapthaline crystals 

 (crysta alba) in the fabric. This is better than camphor gum and 

 is a good expellant, is cheap, and leaves no stains or offensive 

 odors behind. 



Care of Clothing. — Clothing to be stored should be treated as 

 recommended for carpets. Drawers or boxes in which infested 

 clothing has been stored should be thoroughly sprayed with benzine. 



Furniture. — Cloth covered furniture should be thoroughly steamed 

 •or sprayed with benzine*. 



If the methods advocated above are carefully applied for two or 

 three seasons, even so difficult a pest to exterminate as Antlirenv.s 

 ■Scroplinlarlai will be compelled to jneld. 



