TO EXTERMINATE ANTS

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · May 18, 1904

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 30, No. 20.

TO EXTERMINATE ANTS.

FOR the several species of ants that frequent pantries and other places in the house, nothing is more effective than pyrethum, known as buhach, and insect powder. As the killing property of this material is a volatile oil, the supply should be kept in an air-tight box, and frequently dusted along the runways and places frequented by these insects. For colonies of ants in lawns and sidewalks, get a small quantity of bisulphide of carbon, a very volatile, foul-smelling liquid as clear as water, with fumes heavier than air, and pour into the runways. If the entrance to the nest is large, saturate a small piece of cotton, and thrust it into the hole, and close the opening. Have no lights of any kind around when using the bisulphide of carbon, as its fumes are explosive. The fumes are deadly poison to animal life, but a reasonable amount can be inhaled without injury to persons.

Another remedy: Mix three pennyworth of tartar emetic in an equal amount of white sugar, make it quite moist, put it into small dishes, and set it on the shelves where the ants are troublesome. They will disappear, and you will find no dead ones about. Do not throw the mixture away, but save it for further attacks, as it can be easily moistened again.