FARMING NOTES.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3138, 9 October 1922, Page 2

FARMING NOTES.

THE ARGENTINE ANT PEST. In many of the southern States of America the Argentine ant pest is a destructive one, and we read that it is believed to have arrived as a stowaway with South American freight and to have landed in New Orleans. Since it was first observed it has migrated into at least nine States where the voracity of its appetite and its freedom from prejudice against anything that can be eaten has made it a first rate nuisance. It will destroy farm crops, fruit, stored food or household supplies. It does not (rare whether it operates in the open field or the privacy of other people's homes. In New Orleans the people have decided to get rid of the Argentine ant, and the city is organised by wards and districts for that purpose. The method of destruction is to be by poison. The process is an interesting one, and if the ant understood it he would brand it as atrociously cruel. They do not give an ant enough poison to kill him off and be done with it. To do so would be bad technique. Instead they set out receptacles filled with some sweet syrup stuff just sufficiently doctored with arsenic to kill ants off a little at*a time like a life insurance poisoner getting rid of the beneficiary in a manner that will not stir suspicion. The first ant, rejoicing in his find of a whole bucket of nectar rushes, oft' to tell his friends and they all come carrying quantities back to the nest 4|o feed to their innocent offspring. It will bo seen that this makes a thorough, though somewhat coldblooded job.