THE WOODBORER.

Timaru Herald, Volume XC, Issue 13290, 20 May 1907, Page 3

THE WOODBORER.

An Auckland Journal says that inquiries among architects, and furniture manufacturers show that a good heart of kauri is Tiever attacked by the borer. Rimu is also safe, but sappy" varieties of either kauri cr rimu are liable to take the worm. An architect who superin.ended the demolition of an old building in Parnell recently stated that although much of the timber was riddled with worm, the solid kauri, though surrounded by eaten wood, was quite sound. The building was not in the least unsafe, and he has never come across an instance in Auckland where the pest has ever ruined the stability of a building. A leading furniture manufacturer states that good rimu, kauri, oak, walnut, and mahogany are safe from the pest, and the l>est furniture made in Auckland never contains kahikatea now, owing to the danger from worm. Rattan ware and split bamboo forms a favourite abiding place for the imdduous foe of the housekeeper. Rattan is itself not susceptible, but the willow which forms the basis of this prettv furniture takes the borer readily. " How long does it take to ruin a piece of worm-attacked furniture?" the manufacturer was asked. "It will not spoil the usefulness of the furniture until ten years has elapsed as a rule," was the reply. " Certainly, there will be no bad effect for five years." A certain remedy for the pest, if it has not gone so far as to ruin the article attacked, is to coat the wood with turpentine. If this can be followed by varnishing, thus stopping up the holes, so much the wois? for the borer, if it has not i-lreadv been killed by the fumes from the turpentine. Benzene is equally -effective itnd kerosene has been found suitable, though it has a disadvantage compared with" and turpentine in leaving a ty'nit in the wood. ' An Auckland architect states that three rears ago he boup.ht an ancient oak fdiest. which was riddled with worm-holes. He gave the wood a good coat of turpentine and th°n varnished if. with the result that the activity of the pest was suspended, and he has not- seen a new worm-hole in the chest sine- Prevention, however, being bet er than cuie. furniture and houses snould be cr.iutructed of hard timber free from sap-