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January, 1891. 
Of the clothes* moth we have three 
species which are very injurious and very 
common. The one most frequently met 
with in the north is of a buff or straw color 
and is known as Tineola bisellieUa, Hummel 
(Fig. 401). The other twoareTYiiea tapetzella 
Linn, or, as it is more commonly called, the 
carpet moth, and Tinea pellionella Linn. 
These three do most of the damage to 
woolen goods, furs and carpets. The last 
named is of a light yellow color, with small 
dark spots on the wings. The mature 
moths make their appearance in the spring 
or as soon as the climate is favorable for 
their operations. They generally stay until 
late in August or the first of September, 
when they disappear. As soon as the ma- 
ture insects mate, the female seeks some 
obscure place in which to deposit her eggs ; 
usually selecting some dark, unfrequented 
place like closets, trunks, boxes or anything 
that contains material for the young larvae 
to constime. The eggs, after being laid 
hatch within a few days if the conditions 
are favorable, aud the larva, which is a 
small white wormlike body, begins imrne 
diately to build for itself a case. This case is 
constructed of the material upon which the 
larva feeds, the inside being lined with deli 
cate silk of its own spinning. As the larva 
grows, it enlarges the case by putting pieces 
in the side, first one side and then the 
other, also by building on at the ends. To- 
ward fall the larval reach their full growth, 
and during the winter months, remain 
toi*pid and inactive. Early in the spring 
the larvae change to pupae or chrysalids 
within the case and in a short time appear 
as moths. The other two species resemble 
this one very much in their life history 
Tineola bisellieUa, however, does not build 
for itself a case, but at the time of pupation 
constructs for itself a case made of the 
material upon which it feeds. It is very 
fond of feathers, and Dr. Riley in Insect 
Life tells of a circumstance in which 
number of feather dusters were entirely 
destroyed by it. Tinea tapetzella, unlike 
the others, builds no case, but, instead, con- 
structs galleries and channels in the mate 
rial upon which it is feeding, and in these 
it undergoes the 
changes from egg 
to image. This is 
found frequently in 
carpets, where it 
does considerable 
damage. It is 
known as the carpet moth and differs from 
the carpet bug or Buffalo carpet beetle 
which was described by Prof. F. H. Hillman 
in Orchard and Garden for July, 1889 
Vol. XL, No. 7, Pp. 142. The carpet moth 
works principally along the edge of the 
carpet nearest the wall. From this fact a 
ready means for its destruction lies in the 
use of a wet cloth and a good hot smoothing 
iron. Dampen the cloth and after placing 
it over the injured part of the carpet, run 
the hot iron over it. This of course will 
produce steam, which is driven down into 
the carpet and thus destroys the pest. 
Fig. 401. 
Many people, when putting down their 
carpets, sprinkle refuse tobacco under it to 
keep out the moths. Dr. Harris recorn- 
mennds black pepper as an excellent 
emedy. Crystallized napthaline and 
camphor gum are known to give good 
results if used in this way. When woolens 
or furs are packed away for the summer, 
these substances may be placed among the 
goods and aid in keeping out the moths. 
If clothes are attacked, a careful brushing 
and exposure to bright sunlight will effec- 
tually destroy the pest. If the upholster- 
ing of furniture is being eaten, a liberal 
application of gasoline or benzine will 
remove the pests. These liquids will destroy 
the moth in all its stages. Bisulphide of 
carbon is equally as good. We have in our 
museum a war relic, “Old Buckskin,” the 
horse Lieut. Baker rode when he captured 
Wilkes Booth. This last summer the blan- 
ket which is under the saddle was attacked 
by Tinea tapetzella, and large holes were 
eaten into it. We took the blanket and, 
after putting it in a tight box, gave it a 
liberal application of bisulphide of carbon. 
On opening the box, two or three days after, 
the odor of the bisulphide could be detected, 
but the moths were dead. When the blan- 
ket was put in its place, it was dusted with 
Buhach, or Persian insect powder, and it 
has been free ever since. The use of gaso- 
line, benzine, and bisulphide of carbon must 
be attended with great care and caution, as 
they are highly inflammable. Fire should 
not be brought near as long as the odor can 
be detected. These substances do not stain 
or in any way injure the materials to 
which they have been applied and with 
care can be used successfully. Buggy 
cushious and carriage linings, if treated 
with a solution of alcohol and corrosive 
sublimate, will be free from these pests. 
The solution should not be so strong as to 
destroy the color. “If the solution be made 
just strong enough so as not to leave a 
white mark on a black feather,” it will 
answer the purpose admirably. 
Conducted by Prof. f. Lamson Scribner, 
Botanist, Experiment Station, Knoxville, Tknn. 
Leaf-Spot of Screw Palm. 
( Physalospora Pandani.) 
In the little greenhouse of this Station 
(Agr. Experiment Station of the University 
of Tenn.) we have a fairly thrifty specimen 
of Screw Palm or Pan- 
danus. During the past 
two years, however, its 
long and rigid leaves 
have suffered at times 
from a spot disease 
which has disfigured 
them more or less, and 
even caused some of 
them to die. The ter- 
minal portion of the 
leaf is the part most 
frequently destroyed, 
but when this has been 
killed the spiral sym- 
metry of the plant, its 
chief attraction, i s 
much injured. 
The spots appear 
chiefly in the upper 
half of a leaf, first as a 
slight yellowing of the 
green surface, then yel- 
lowish gray (or the 
color of dead tissue), 
their outlines usually Fig. 398. a part, of a 
becoming sharply ^ 
fined by a narrow, dark Leaf-spot fungus, 
brown border. Outside this border there 
IPOMEA PANDURATA n «AY Y 
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"Z ft. high. Mass of bright golden flowers June to Dec' r. 
WILSON’S SEED A PLANT CATALOGUE 
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