The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-05-21
FIGHTING MOTHS IN CARPETS.
Liquids Which Arc Repugnant to the De-
strOyer of Woven Goods.


stroyer of Woven Goods.
Carpets were never cheaper nor bet
ter than now, but until times are better
we shall have to take care of our old car
pets. The moth is the great enemy to
be fought and defeated. There are eff
ficacious remedies. One is to steep one
fourth of a pound of cayenne pepper in
one gallon OF water, then adding two
drachms of strychnia powder. Strain
and pour this into a shallow vessel.
such as a large tinned-iron milk pan.
Roll the carpet up and set each end al
ternately in this mixture for ten min
utes, or long enough to insure the sat
uration of its edges for about an inch.
DO this after beating the carpet. The
ends should likewise be treated. Be
sure the carpet is dry before lacking
down, as the wet poison might injure
the fingers while lacking. When done
with the liquid throw where it possibly
cannot harm anybody, or bottle and
label for future use, marking it Carpet
moth poison" This preparation will
not stain the carpet nor corrode metals
IL contact with the carpet.
Another mixture calls for one pound
of quassia chips, one-fourth of a pound
of cayenne pepper, stepped in two gal
Ions of water, strained and used as
above.
When the carpet to be treated is not
to be taken up, spray ends, edges, mar
gins and corners with the atomizer.
Perhaps two or three applications
might be better than one with the atom
izer.
The carpet moth loves the bindings
and margins of a carpet. Ingrains or
threc-plys may be treated successfully
while down by wringing cloth out of
hot water, laying it over the bindings
and edges and ironing with a hot iron.
This will destroy both moth and eggs.
This method is not effectual with mo-
quettes or other heavy carpets, as the
heat will not sufficiently penetrate
them, besides which, ironing injuries
the pile of velvets; still, the tacks can
be drawn occasionally and the carpet
laid over on its edge, one side at time,
and steamed on the wrong side. Then
wipe the floor under the carpet as far
as the arm can reach with hot cayenne
tea. Also wipe the edge and bindings
of carpet with hot rag, rubbing hard
| before renailing. Some recommend
sprinkling salt around the sides of the
room before mailing down the sides of
the carpet, but this seems wrong, be-
cause the salt will surely attract too
much moisture.
BE on the lookout for the Buffalo car
pet beetle as early in the year as Feb
ruary and March. Look out for them on
| the windows and window stills, and over
all wooden clothing not in frequent use.
| The moth has a special liking for red
| carpet. But the pest comes also later
! in the year. being sometimes brought
| into the house in flowers. 1t has par
ticular love for the blossoms of the
spirea. 1t is a good plan, where the
moths are unusually bad to saturate
the floor with benzine, or preferably,
we think, with spirits of turpentine,
which is not so infamable nor volatile,
and then lay newspapers down under
the carpet. This prevents an attack
from the underside. 1t is important to
remember that the moth always abhors
the light, which is death to the eggs
and larvae, and is really the best thing
with which to circumvent them.
Corrosive sublimate and alcohol in
the proportions of 60 grains of the form
er to one pint of the latter is useful for
treating the edges of the seams of the
carpet where the pest is bad, but the
poison is so deadly that great caution
is required in its use, especially where
babies are around.
The moths deposit their eggs in the
early spring. This, therefore, is the sea-
son to put away furs and wooden goods
| for the summer. 1t is not the moth, but
the larvae, that does the harm.
Thoroughly beat the goods with a rat
tan and air them for several hours in
the sunlight if possible. Wrap up in a
newspaper perfectly tight. If this work
is done properly there will be no need
of an air-tight chest or cedar chest.
moth balls, but they will not go through
paper or cotton textiles. Indeed, a cot
ton bag or other wrapping is just as
good as paper. Once month take out
the goods and examine them in the sun
light and give them good beating.
When the moths are not SO bad, as in
some seasons and localitions, this
monthly inspection may not be neces-
sary. But this is really the fur dealers
secret of preserving their stock. Cam
phor is bad for fur, as it impairs their
beauty by turning them light. Camphor
may be sprinkled among the woolens,
but secure wrapping in paper or cotton
is good enough. The above method may
be used to preserve feathers also.-Good
Housekeeping.
| Science to the Rescue.
The curtain was up on the first scene,
but the characters did not appear. In
their stead the stage manager glided