A HOUSE ENEMY

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 81, 2 October 1929, Page 17

A HOUSE ENEMY

There are few things more dreaded by the woman who; is proud of her. home than tho furniture beetle, says a writer, in an exchange. As soon as the signs of his presence aro noticed she wages war upon him. As a rule those nasty-little pests attack old furniture —if it is treasured and valuable they care not—and if they are not stopped they will flo irreparable damage. They will also spread from one article of furniture to another, so that if they are unchecked a whole roomful of furniture may be attacked. Their presence is often detected by powdery fragments appearing on the floor, underneath, or by the side of furniture/ These insects devour the wood to such an extent that in time the furniture: becomes riddled with tiny holes, but as it feeds inside even more the full amount of tho damage is not realised. The -woods most frequently.attacked are oak,.ash, walnut, sycamore, ana old: pine which has lost its resinous matter. The most effective remedy is a liberal application of benzine, which should be. injected into the affected parts through ' the worm holes where they 'appear on the surface. The liquid is .best applied by a fine oilcan once or twice a week.' As a preventive against the attacks of the worm the furniture should .be wiped over periodically with a rag moistened with turpentine, to which a few drops of oil of thyme have been added. Paraffin is also good, and if the legs of a tablo or chair or similar-article are attacked, it is a good plan to stand them in little jars or saucers filled with paraffin! Beware of beetles attacking your piano! When-once they get right into a piano they are very difficult to remove. Precaution and early treatment axe the best remedies, " ~ ,