The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-04-26
DOMESTIC SCIENCE.

Along with the flowers of spring comes
a gay procession Of other life not quite so
poetical that keeps the housekeeper both on
the defensive and offensive. Moths, car.
pet bugs, fcas, flies, large and small; yellow.
Jackets and other insects still more objec-
tionable feel the genial warmth Of the sun,
and proceed without the fonnality of an in.
Ntation to make themselves at home in the
family circle.
To prevent their entrance is far better
than to rout them when once settled. Few
things are more aggrayating than to find
Pauls dress suit, the rugs in the back par.
lor or Mabcl's furs eaten by moths There
is general impression that tobacco, moth
balls, pepper or camphor will suffice 10 keep
away moths, but sad experience proves that
1t 10 not 80. Indeed, they often seem to have
prediction for odoss Of this sort. and to
wax fat in their environment. In protecting
woolens nom moths, cleanliness Is one OF the
first requisites. 4 soiled garment invites
attack. and nothing should be put away until
cleaned as thoroughly a. possible. Articles
that cannot be washed should be carefully
brushed and beaten. All the pockets of gar.
n,ents should be turned inside out, brushed
and then turned back again, and every soft
spot cleansed. As soon as any garenlnt is
clean, fold separately, and very smoothly,
and wrap in newspaper or clean pieces Of
cotton or linen. When many things are to
be put away at the same time. select a
bright alnshinny day, get all your parapher.
MALTA OF wrapping papers, cord, muslin and
articles to be packed together, and make "A
business Of it. Have the chest, barrel, or
box in which they are to be packed wiped
out perfectly clean with damp cloth, so
that not particle OF dust fingers. Paste
newspapers all around the sides and bottom,
being sure there are no cracks where u mil.
Ter can get in. Dgy thoroughly by tho
kitchen stove or in the sun. and then pack
In tho articles which have been aired, brush.
ed, wrapped and marked, so that You can tell
what is In each package without unwrapping.
Keep list as you 40 on Of all that Is i'm
the packing box or barrel, and when ,lnis.led
paste on the outside. When the receptacle
is full, cover the top with several thick.
nesses OF newspaper, FASTING all around the
edge.
in putting away velvet or cloth hats for
the summer, brush CAREFULLY with a hat
brush, fill out the loops and bows with soit
tissue paper and pin the hat in a sheet OF
the same, then lay carefully IN hat box
and paste newspaper all around where the lid
Joins the box. II you have no box put in
large clean paper Hour bags or bags made
Of cheap uhbleaehed cotton, tic closely and
hang up on wall.
kerosene barrel Is said to make an In.
sect.proof receptacle ior furs and all wooll,n
goods.
II IN the part OF wisdom to examine the
edges of the carpet often in the spring. II
the carpet II not 10 be taken from the aoor,
remove the tacks. turn back half yard all
around the room, wipe the floor, and spray
with benzine in the cracks or Use a little
earbolic acid In the water. Then replace the
carpet, cover with dapp sheet and iron
with hot aatiron. This will produce sufi
cient heat 10 destroy both the moths and all
their larvae.
Upholstercd furniture may be Protected
from the ravages Of moths by spraying Two
or three times during the summer with
nsphths os benzine. II you have no regu.
lar sprayer, take . small watering pot. such
as is used Tor sprinklins house plants. and
sprinkle in April. June and August. These
materials will not harm the most delicate
tao'ies. and the unpleasant odor soon passes