The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-06-10
PROTECTION FROM MOTHS
Cedar Chests a Snare and n Deluslon
Newspapers and Turpentine the
Y Only Real Safeguards.

Nothing is more trying among the
smaller ills of life than to have cloth
ing and furs and carpets eaten by
moths. Very often articles are not put
away soon enough in the spring, the
eggs are already laid in the stuff be-
fore they are packed, and hatch in the
profound darkness in which they revei.
There is a general impression that
camphor, or pepper, or moth balls keep
away moths, but it is not so. They do
not in the least object to odors, and why
such stuff is used at all is really mys-
terry. Buffalo bugs seem really TO
thrive on camphor, and to find esPecial-
~ congenial quarters in cedar shelves
or closets or trunks.
Every article should be carefully
brushed-au the pockets turned inside
out, brushed, and then turned smooth
ly back again, and every spot of every
description carefully cleansed - for
moths always seize upon spot OF any
sort as particularly choice morsel.
Each garment should be folded sepa-
rately and very smoothly, and wrapped
in old linen or cotton sheets, or parts OF
them.
Newspaper is an excellent thing to
fold things in, as for some reason,
moths particularly object to it. The
chest that things are to be packed away
in should be carefully wiped out per-
fectly clean with wet cloth, so that
not particle of dust fingers. tits we'll
to spread large old sheet over the
open trunk and push it down, leaving
the surplus outside, and then to fold
that over when the trunk is packed,
for even one moth miller, if it slips in,
may undo all your work and care.
Never leave trunk open moment
after it has been wiped out, before pack
ing it.
Very valuable furs should be exam
ined and beaten every two or three
weeks at the outside. 1t is great deal
of trouble and great deal of care to
do all this, but people must pay for fine
possessions, and must so regard The
care. Never trust to cedar closet for
keeping valuable woolens or furs.
One famous housekeeper had cedar
closet built into new house that was
the envy of every woman who saw it
with it's shelves and drawers all in
closed, with tightly fitting doors, that
gave out such delicious odor when the
outer door of all was opened, and
seemed to invite the care of everything
most precious.
That summer the first year she had
owned the closet she packed her furs
and went to Europe with an easy mind.
Among other things a Russia sable
cape of enormous size, and very valu-
able, was put in the closet. When she
reached home, opened her closet and
took out her furs, she found that moth.
ing had escaped the moths, and her
cloak was such mass of worms that it
had to be buried at once.
This is absolutely true, and many OF
the very best and most careful house.
keepers now consider cedar really q
moth producer, and cedar receptacles
of any sort worse than no protection
at all.
The very best sort of chest to pacl
clothing away in is good solid ches
of good size and heavy, and we'll fitted
as to joints and cover, that any good
carpenter can make, and if given coat
of shellac or varnish outside it will in
time be very handsome. Old paper
lined trunks should never be used. fol
under the paper the moths are more
than likely to have deposited their eggs
Carpets that are nailed down close t.
the Dashboard are often eaten there
even when the room is open and mos
carefully swept. The only way to pre-
vent it is to saturate the carpet once ;
week in spring and summer with lit
tie turpentine on the places where tn,
moths have eaten or are likely to eat
The turpentine will not injure the mos
delicate colors, and is the best preserva
tive from moths known.-Boston Globe