Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1890-04-09
TIMELY SUGGESTION.



rious kinds, the prospect OF a dwelling
place where they are not certainly
presents many attractions. Eternal
vigilance is necessary to prevent the de-
posit of the eggs from which the grub
or worm is Matched which does the mis-
chief, and only prevention Is of use,
unless the most extreme measures
are resorted to. Most of the moth pre-
ventives, moth destroyers, and even
cedar closets are worse than worthless
after the eggs are deposited, lulling the
sOI OF the housewife into fancied Sc
curity, reserving for some future day
the shock OF finding all OF her best furs
and fiannels destroyed. For the little
grub is an epicure. and seeks the most
toothsome morsels where with to sat-
lSfy his appetite, & e best grades OF fur
will be attacked, when common or low
grades will be passed by and left un-
harmed. In an emergency. however,
everything in the fur line, and all WOOL
ems, however, undesirable. are meat for
this insatiate pest.
There are several varieties of moths
which are destroyerS OF wearing ap-
pareL. Those best known in this coun-
try are the ordinary small sllver-winged
insect, the parent of the tiny, sm both
brown grub which is the depreiatDT;
and the buffalo moth, q larger, more
hardy anl most voracious creature,
wedge shaped, black and woolly,
which not only devours fur, fiannelS
and carpets. but feathers, and some
times silk and-wOol goods as well. 1t
has been said that they eat the latter
for tie sake of the wool; but, however
that may be, the silk il eaten through
MI hn Ia
less. But II is all-woo. goods and In
furs that this creature revels; and some
Idea of its destroying capacity may he
gathered from the fact that within four
weeks time a cream-wMte double sin WI
of line Chuddah was eaten into abso-
lutte wOrthlessness. portions as large as
the palm of the hand being taken out
as cleaniy "a though cut with scissors.
Moths prefer goods without dye, aud
consequently attack white articles first;
but dyes do not, as a rule, interfere
seriously with their appetites.
1t Is generally supposed that moths
begin their work ut the coming OF
warm weather; and through confidence
in tins theory many garment IS ne
elected until the eggs are deposited IN Its
folds, Wien it Is carefully packed away,
ind the moths are left uIriIsturbed TO
devOur it. In large houses and steam
heated buildings, the moth, after years
of what may answer to the acclinat-
ing process, seems TO loose its count OF
the seasons, and dies at all times OF the
year. y number of moth-flieS We're
seen IN December, January and Feb
ru1Ty just pat. aud more OF less injury
WAS dore 10 garments during the mild
days of those mouths. Moths VIII
work in carpets the year round if the
1sOrs are warm, and the utmost care
should be taken that valuable articles
are not left in clothes-pr, sSes or cup
boards which are adjacent TO heated
chimneys. The warmth matches ont
the worms, which almost Immediately
begin TO feed and soon spin for them
selves sort or cocoon of silyery
threads. III which they pass a short
chrysais stage, emerging aS flies, or
millerS 10 lay a quantity of eggs which
in turn produce more worms to begin
their work OF destruction.
While il IS 50 difficult to dislodge the
moth once the eggs has been laid, il IS
much less so 10 Keep it away. There
are many OlorS that are offensive to il,
and which Will, under ordinary cir
cumStanceS, keep Il at a distance 1t
is not, however, safe 10 trust To these
altogether; although. used In connec-
tiOn with other preyentives- they are
no doubt OF some value. lr before the
moth eggs are laid furS and woolens be
thoroughly beaten with light rattan or
cane, and put awLy in any close recep-
tacle, there is every reason to believe
that they will come out unhaTmed
when cold weather sets IN. That cam
- l..V-
strongly scented article will, If used
alone, keep moths away from wooden
garments, there is good reason to
dOubt. One practical housekeeper de-
clares that S has had garments ut
terly destroyed III a chest where sha
had placed a surplus stock of several
pounds of camphor gum. The cover
did no: lit the chest closely: but, fol-
lowing tradition, she took 1t for
granted that ,mphor would keep them
out, and so gave the matter no further
thought. Owners of cellar chests and
closets have been equally unfortunate;
and too trusting householie have
purchased their experience in a some
what expensive way.
To put up furs in the simplest AM
most practical WAY it l. only necessary V
10 beat them thoroughly 10 dislodge
| any concealed moth worms. and eX-
anime them carefully for deposits of
eggs. Then wrap them up III tissue paper
iatteTwaTd In newspaper, and then tie
the various parcels up i'll lag ma le of
thick muslin or linen. y lady who
uses in her family only the finest and
most expensive of furs and hannels
says that after trying all sCTts of eX-
iperiments, having her garments almost
ruined i'll stOTa-e and paving half their
value each year for repairs, sometimes
being obliged TO replace them outright,
she was given a few simple directions,
which she las ever since followed ~
the perfect preservation OF her valua-
bleS and her OWL peace OF mind. She
has bags made Tor her finest fUrs, and
in these they are always placed when
not in use. TIE bags are considerably
| longer than the article they incloSe,
and are pointed at the top. When
filed the top or the bag is tied in a
simple knot, and by this knot is hung
to Il hook in the ciothes-preSs. If the
garment IS a cape or cloak there is a
/ pi ce OF very strong tape stretched
from the point of the Tag downward,
and loop at its lower end, just III posi-
tion to hold the hook OF the hanger
which supports the shoulders and keeps
the garments in shape. THIS tape
strengthens the point, as it ties in with
the kn { and prevents tearing. T. e
bags are made of heavy cotton and
starched. 1t is impossible for the moth
fly 10 lay eggs through such a covering.
and no doubt the garments would be
perfectly safe if left in this way the
year round. Not risking this, how
ever, they are wrapped in tissue paper,
then in newspaper, and each garment
put into a paper bag tightly tied up at
the top. Several bags are then put into
one OF the large cloth bags, which are