Or put allspice, black pepper, the seeds of the musk plant, tansy leaves, lavender flowers, juniper berries, or bits of sponge, paper, or linen mois tened with turpentine, or Cayenne pepper or tobacco or, in fact, almost any substance or combination of sub stances which has a strong pungent and lasting odor, in and among the articles to be protected. Probably crystals of naphthaline are as effec tive as any repellent that can be mentioned.
Or place a vial containing chloro form, and having a small slit or hole in the cork through which it can slowly evaporate, where the fumes will penetrate the articles.
To Destroy with hydrocyanic-acid gas or sulphur or camphor.
Or brush out and dust the inside of closets, wardrobes, and chests of drawers, brush floors that have been or are to be covered by woolen car pets, and wash the woodwork, espe cially all cracks and crevices, with hot soapsuds. Then apply a strong solution of alum dissolved in boil ing water (1 or 2 pounds to the gallon).
Or a strong solution of carbolic acid or spirits of turpentine, kero sene, benzine, or gasoline.
Or a solution of creolin in water.
Apply any of these by means of a brush or spring-bottom oil can or atomizer. Take care to work it into the cracks by means of a small brush, a long feather, or otherwise.
To Protect Carpets from Moths.— Sprinkle the floor with turpentine, benzine, gasoline, or petroleum, or scatter peppermint or other fragrant herbs upon it, before the carpet is laid.
Or, if a carpet becomes infested while on the floor, sponge the infest ed spots with a solution of 60 grains of corrosive sublimate dissolved in 1 pint of alcohol.
Or apply gasoline freely to the carpet by means of a sponge, brush, atomizer, or sprinkler.
Or apply turpentine freely. Any of these will destroy the eggs and larvae.
Or sprinkle borax freely about the edges of the carpet and work it into the pile of the carpet beneath heavy pieces of furniture and other spots that cannot be easily swept.
Or spread a damp towel above the suspected places in the carpet and iron it dry with a very hot iron. Do the same round the edges of the carpet, under heavy furniture, and at other places not frequently swept. The hot steam destroys the eggs and larva.
Or, if necessary, take up the car pet, beat it as clean as possible, re move the grease spots, and sponge carefully on both sides with a mix ture of 1 pint of turpentine to 1 gallon of water. Wash the floor with hot suds made of borax with the addition of turpentine, and apply around the edges a strong solution of alum, carbolic acid, or creolin.
To Protect Furs from Moths.— Beat the furs, using preferably a piece of rubber hose. This will not cut or tear them. Comb them over with a steel comb and expose them to direct sunshine in the open air. Shake and brush each piece care fully, wrap it separately in newspa per, paste the edges tightly, label it, and lay it away in a drawer, chest, or wooden box where the paper in which it is wrapped will not he broken.
Or, to prevent accidental breaking of the wrappers, lay the packages in pasteboard or wooden boxes and seal the joints with newspaper and paste. Cedar chests, moth balls, or other re pellents are not necessary if all moths, eggs, and larvae are first removed and the furs are packed tightly; but there can be no objection to sprinkling naphthaline crystals, red or black pepper, various essential oils, and other substances having strong odors among the furs, or to wrapping up in them pieces of gum camphor, tallow candle, etc.
Or, instead of newspapers, put the articles in tight pillow slips or un bleached cotton bags, tying these tight ly at the tops. Moths will not pene trate cotton or newspaper.
Or furs may be washed in a solution of 12 grains of corrosive sublimate in 1 pint of warm water.
Cold Storage for Furs.—Many fur riers and most of the large depart ment stores in cities have arrange ments for placing valuable furs in cold storage during the summer months. A temperature as low as 40° F. will prevent the depredations of moths, and many warehouses maintain as low a temperature as 20° F. These estab lishments insure furs against loss or damage.
Mixtures for Moths. — Dissolve 4 ounces of alum in 1 pint of water. Add 4 ounces of salt and k pint of spirits of turpentine.
Or dissolve 1 ounce of camphor and 1 ounce of carbolic acid in 1 pint of benzine.