The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-04-19

In this climate 1t is never safe to pack away winter clothing much before May.
 Aprils sun is warm and beguiling, but sleet and piercing winds are likely to fol- low the finest day. It Is at this season, however, that the housekeeper aust be on the lookout for moths.
 Before the last of April the tlneids, to locate them scientifically, are all house hunting, for May Is the month In which they deposit their eggs.
 The most expensive tailor-made gown, the richest of furs, the baby's soft flannel blankets and embroidered petticoats, the dress coat, the velvet hat with It's sweep ing plumes, are none too good for their housing, which must also provide abnn- dant and toothsome material for the lar vac to whet their mandibles oh.
 With the depositing of the tiny eggs Mime. Moths mission in life Is accom- pllShed; but the larvae, who make their appearance in June, enter at once npoh the programme mapped out for them from the beginning-tra the ma tcrials of their dwelling Into soft jackets for themselves. With such yigo- do these dull white caterpilars carry on their np- pointed tasks that within a week the most expensive garment may be ruined. Clean Garments Before Storing Them.
 Cedar closets, malodorous moth balls, tar paper, camphor, tobacco, what not, are all powerless to stay the course oe nature If the garments are put away with the eggs already deposited. On this ac- count the greatest care must be taken to see that all garments to be stored are ab- sciutely clean and free from moths or eggs when put away. Furs must be well aired, not sunned-for the ardent beams O. a hot spring sun are more disastrous to fine seal garment than whole winters wear-then thoroughly beaten with slender switch or cane that will reach the skin itself regular fur comb can also be used to advantage. If sohed about the neck, cleanse with the fine white sand that can be obtained at the biru stores. Heat this in the oven uatll IL IS as hot os the hand can te borne Ill u, scatter it through the fur, bear nghly with a switch and finish by hrushlhg both up and down with little willsK broom This will give luster to the TUT.
 If there are pockets turn them inside out brush, then turn smoothly back again. The cleaning thoroughly accomplished, the gar ment Is ready to pack or hang away. If room is abundant a special dark closet may be given up to the keeping of furs. Ia this case paper 1t all oyer, top and bottom, with tar paper, covering this with a second coat of newspaper to prevent sticking. Here the garments may hang without crushing or wrnkllng, and from here they can readily be taken out once a month and examined. Failing closet, clean, tight barrel or a chest whose interior has been carefully pasted over with tar paper and newspaper will answer very well. If reduced to the ex- tremity of a pasteboard box, fold smoothly and pack in square newspaper bags, for the moth has a rooted aversion to printers ink.
 Lay the article to be packed on one clean sheet of newspaper, cover with another sheet and seal the four sides, leaving no opening even as large as pinhead. Before sealing put In few pieces of gum camphor or any of the numerous moth preyentives, care being taken to wrap them in tissue paper or sew them In bags to prevent direct contact with the fur and consequent discoloration. Write the name of the garment on the out side of the package, lay in the box, cover and wrap in newspaper with an outside layer of tar paper.