Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-07

- PRIMO housecleaning, which IN
usually accomplished before Easter.
mas been delayed this year IN
many localities by reason of the
late season. Household pests"
however, are on schedule time, and sue-
gestions for their rout may prove of in
terest 10 inexperienced housekeepers, at
least. And first
The Plague Of Ants.
A while ago I received a letter from a
troubled housekeeper asking me what
she could do to keep aunts out of her
kitchen and pantry" While I had no
suggestions looking to the humiliation
Of 'aunts," was glad to be able to tell
her how she could rout an army Of preda-
tory black ants. Once a house il COM
pletely overrun with the black ant colony
II takes anywhere from ten days to two
weeks steady work to drive them out.
The black ant thrives on cool, damp
weather. punctuated by days OF fervent
heat. When they come In colonies they
not only destroy food but furniture, and
the very house itself. If the haunts of
thing to do il to I'LL their hills with boil
Ing water followed by q generous flushing
Of coal oil. Another remedy is to put
quick lime near the mouth of the hole,
then wash 1t with boiling water. Cayenne
10 one Of the strong odors that ants dis
like. and q generous sprinkling over the
pantry shelves after they have first been
well scalded and dried will do much to
keep them out. This remedy may have to
be repeated often. both on the shelves and
the window stills across which they make
their entry. Other remedies advocated
for their dispersal are leaves of green
wormwood scattered here and there salt
or q strong solution of London purple.
The Disease-Spreading Fly.
Because Of his well known propensity
to disseminate disease. the fly is to be
rsligiously guarded against. Typhoid,
malaria, yellow fever and other con-
tagious diseases follow in his wake. and
the place where he treads is anything
but holy ground. Filth OF almost any
sort IL selected by the female househy for
her breeding place, the refuse from horse
stables being her first choice. Cleanliness
and screens are the best remedies for
their incursions. Where a few residential
fellows have made their triumphant en-
try, q good strong bat" made by dou-
bling up several thicknesses Of newspaper
or q whisk broom, coupled with much
agility. viii be successful IN corraIing
Of geraniums and calcolortas are said
to discourage dies from entering houses.
- &2Oxo9A12o0 GAy 6O4oO0s
Beat together the yolk OF one egg. one
third cupfui sweet milk. one level table,
spoonful Of sugar and level teaspoonful
Of black pepper. Put on plates and set
whore dies abound. After q few hours
you viii md the door covered with dead
Or stunned flies. Sweep up and burn
Buffalo Bugs.
For the Willy buffalo bug try formaide-
hyde. They cannot stand the gas gen.
Grated Sprinkle the carpet with ~
per cent solution once q day for three or
four days. and the bugs will cspituiate. For
q closet, place q shallow dish filled with
the solution on the floor. close the door
tight, stopping up the keyhole, and the
moths will trouble you no longer. AR
the rooms well after the formaidehyde
Roach Food.
A good food for reaches is made by stir
ring together one cupful of cornmeal, one
quarter pound Of borax, two Tablespoon
fuls Of sugar and water to make stiff
paste. Form into small cakes and set
aside to harden. Break in pieces and
scatter along the shelves or tubs where
reaches are apt to assemble themselves
together. A solution Of strong potash
poured into the cracks and creylces that
they frequent is often most efficacious.
though II takes on paint and varnish-
Many good housekeepers now taboo pa
pers on the pantry shelves, thinking II
gives the bugs one less vantage point for
hiding. II papers are used 1t is well to
sprinkle the shelves literally with borax
EMMA PADDOCK TELFoRD.