Prepared by the Georgia Department of Agriculture, Office of Public Affairs, Tommy Irvin Commissioner. Call Consumer Q's hotline at 1-800-282-5852.

Q: I try to keep my home free of insects but last year I could not keep spiders and roaches out of my family room. The fireplace is located in this room. Could these insects have been using the fireplace chimney for breeding?

A: It is very unlikely that roaches or spiders are breeding in your chimney. If you stored firewood in your family room, that's where your insect problems originated. Lurking in the crevices of your firewood or hiding just beneath the bark, insects could be waiting to hitch a ride into your warm home. Spiders, beetles, and roaches in particular find sanctuary from the cold in woodpiles. It is best to bring in firewood only when you are ready to use it. Otherwise these pests could become active and start crawling around inside your home. Do not bring firewood indoors and place it in a wood box for even short-term storage. This may be convenient, but the boxes can harbor insects. If you have a wood box, use up all the wood and clean it out before refilling. To eliminate this insect problem do not spray your firewood with an insecticide because when burned the wood can release poisonous fumes. To make your firewood unattractive to insects store it properly outdoors. Your wood should be stored off the ground and covered to keep it dry. To protect yourself, wear gloves when taking firewood from the woodpile. Scorpions or poisonous spiders like the black widow may be present. Regular gardening gloves will help avoid dangerous stings or bites.

Q: I just moved to the state and this will be my first winter in the south. My home has a fireplace and I would like to buy some firewood, but I'm not sure how much to order. In the past, I always ordered my firewood by the cord, but everyone here sells it by pickup sizes. How much firewood would I get if I ordered a half-ton pickup load or full-size load?

A: The amount of firewood that can be loaded into the bed of a pickup truck varies and there is no way to accurately determine exactly how much wood it contains. A standard pickup will usually only hold onethird to one-half of a full cord depending on how the firewood is stacked in the truck's bed.

However, Georgia law requires that firewood be offered for sale and sold only by measure using the term "cord." Law defines a cord, like other measurements such as a foot, a gallon or a ton. A seller may not legitimately use terms such as "truckload," "face cord," "rack," or "pile" because these terms have no legally defined meaning.

Beware of firewood sellers who claim they can deliver about a cord of firewood in a half-ton pickup truck. A cord of firewood must equal 128 cubic feet. To be sure you have a cord, stack the wood neatly by placing the wood in a line or row with individual pieces touching and parallel to each other, make sure that the wood is compact and has a few gaps as possible. If the width times the height times the length of the pile does not equal 128 cubic feet, you do not have a cord of firewood. Contact the seller before you burn any of the firewood and ask him to make up any shortages. Be sure to get a receipt, which shows the seller's name and address as well as the price, amount, and kind of wood purchased. If possible, get the seller's telephone number and write down the license plate number of the delivery vehicle. If the seller cannot or will not correct the problem, contact our Fuel and Measures office for help.

Q: When I move my houseplants back indoors, how can I keep the insects outdoors?

A: Start treating the plants you bring into your home for winter with Orthene now. This systemic insecticide will kill the insects that are present and remain effective for approximately ten (10) days. Your plants should be treated twice at twoweek intervals to insure that all of the insects have been eliminated before the plants are moved indoors.

If you have questions or problems with products or services regulated by the Georgia Department of Agriculture you may write the Office of Consumer Services, 19 Martin Luther King Drive, Atlanta, GA 30334 or call 1-800-282- 5852.