FoodNetArchive

Twentieth century home cook book

1905

Page 168 · 1 recipe record on this page

Presented as published in 1905. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
The best thing of all is to keep them out. The author has never found any means of doing this so cheap, effectual and pleasant, as wire screens to all doors and windows. This will keep them out, with a little driving occasionally, if the doors all open outward. For mosquitoes and gnats, when it is impracticable to keep them out, as in the case of tents, used while camping out, a little brown sugar burned on coals we have found effective in some instances in driving them away, but of course a good mosquito-bar is the best. IX. Cloth and Fur Moths. The small moths so destructive to cabinets, tapestry, clothes, carpets, furs, grains, etc., are called tineans, and belong to the natural order lepidoptera. They have four membranous wings covered with imbricated scales, like fine powder — as the butterflies and moths. Among these are the carpet moth, the clothes moth, the fur moth, and the hair moth. These moths are nocturnal in their habits, flying in the evening. They do not lay their eggs in material in constant use, and therefore ward- robes, drawers, chests, etc., should be frequently examined, and the contents aired, and beaten to dislodge the eggs or larvaj. 62 298 TWENTIETH CENTURY HOME COOK BOOK. In old houses subject to their depredations, the cracks in closets, and other ex- posed places, may be brushed over with turpentine or other odorous substances. Sheets of paper sprinkled with spirits of turpentine, powdered camphor, shavings of Russia leather or tobacco, are also preventives. Chests and boxes of camphor-wood, red cedar and Si)anisli cedar, are obnoxious to these insects, and are useful for pre- serving costly articles. The cloth linings of carriages, etc., may be preserved from their depredations by b ing sponged on both sides with a solution of corrosive sublimate in alcohol, just s .rong enough so that it will not bleach a black feather white. The insects may also ' >e killed by fumigating with tobacco smoke, or the fumes of sulphur. It is also said that if hemp, in flower, cut and dried, be placed in a cushion, it will prevent the ravages of moths for years. Furs. — A good recipe for preserving furs from moths is : One ounce gum cam- phor and one of powdered shell of red pepper. Macerate in eight ounces of alcoholFur Preserving Tincture for several days, then strain. Sprinkle furs, etc., with this tincture, roll up in a clean cloth and lay away. X. Book- Destroying Insects. Books, large or small, made up of dry paper, are nesting-places for a variety of insects, hardly large enough to be recognized as living things. Besides making them- selves homes ))etween the leaves, they feast on the paste, binding, twine on the backs and the green mold that gathers on them if neglected. One species takes up residence in the binding, devouring as it goes. Another feeds upon the paste. Still another book pest that is sure to appear in a library, not overhauled and dusted occasionally, eats through a volume. Bookcases should not be made light with glass doors. Wire-netting is far prefer- able, because the books are kept drier; fresh air is all-important. An upper story is superior to a basement, being less liable to gather mold, which is a forest of minute vines in which bookworms ramble for exercise. Twice in each summer the books should be exposed to a bright sunlight while dusting them, also exposing the open leaves to a fresh current of air. XI. Kerosene.