Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-09-12
Agricultural.
Moths iIl Furniture.

There are two species of moth which infest
furniture. One is large fly of silvery white
color the worm is also white shaped like the
chestnut worm, and is Familiarity known. 1t
early infests furniture The other is a small
fiy of dark drab color the worm is about
one-fourth of an inch long, and taperlng from
the head TO the tail. IL WAS first observed BY
upholsterers about seven years ago. This fly
pene,rates sofa or chair, generally between
the back and seat of sofas, or under the seats
where the vacancy among the springs affords
safe retreat Ii may make Judgment IN one
week after the furniture is placed in a house.
Ii such she uld be the case, IN two months the
worm will appear; and the continual process
Of procreaiion in few months increases the
number to thousands. The moth has no sea
son. IL destroys IN winter and summer slike,
as il is kept in active life by the constant heat
Of the house. We find, at the same time, in
the same piece of furniture, the fly, the worm
and the eggs thus showing that they are
breeding and destroying all the time. 1t does
not eat good, pure CURED hair, but tastens its
cocoon to il. the elasticity of which prevents
its being disturbed. Inc inside of furniture
Is used by 1t only for the purposes OF propa-
CATION.
The worm when ready for food, crawls out
and destroys the covering, if of WOODEN or
plush material, and falling 10 TIE carPe, destroys
l.. They rarely cut through plush from the in
side, as it is Of cotton back, but there are in
stances where they have cut up muslin on the
outside back of sofas. Ihere is protection
against it except continual care. New furni-
ture should be removed from The walls ct least
twice a week al this season of the year, and
should be we'll whisked all around, particularly
under the seats, to prevent the fly from Iodg-
ing. This is effectual preventive and the
only one known. Cayenne pepper. Scotch
snuff, camphor, turpentIne, and all other RENE
dies tor protection from t1e moth, OF little
or no avail against the furniture moth. Satu-
ration with alcohol will not destroy them in a
piece OF furniture. Ii the furniture is infe s,ed
they may be removed by taking off the muslin
from under the seats and eff the outside ends
and backs, where tEey congregate most, and
expose il TO the air a. much a possible. Beat
well with uhek The open hand, and kill
all the flies and worms which show themselves.
This done often will disturb Them and may
make them leave the furniture. its desire is
to be left quiet. When the furniture free
from moths, and is to be left during the sum
mer months without attention, it may be pro-
tectsd by camphor in small bags, or highly
concentrated palohoui. The safest way is 10
have the furniture we'll whsked twice week.
If the moths attack the carpet, which they will
first do under the sofas and chairs, spread d
wet sheet on the carpet and pass hot fiat
iron over II quickly; the steam will etfectuaiy
destroy both worm aud eggs. Ii furniture is
delivered in dwelling free from moths, the
upholster's responsibility ends there. and ali
rests with The housekeeper, no tradesman
can tell whether The moth "il attack it or not.
There are cases where the furniture has teen
in ten or twelve years before being attack
ed. II would be as lair to hold the tailor re-
sponsible for he safety OF clothing, es to hold
the uphoster res ponsible for the safety of fur
nIlure.-BuLiefin.