Beetle Powder

Cocoa powder....... 4 ounces

Starch.............. 8 ounces

Borax.. ............. 37 ounces

Mix thoroughly.

Remedies Against Mosquitoes

A remedy to keep off mosquitoes, etc., is composed as follows': Cinnamon oil, 1 part; patchouli oil, 1 part; sandal oil, 4 parts; alcohol, 400 parts. This has a pleasant odor.

Oil of pennyroyal is commonly used to keep mosquitoes away. Some form of petroleum rubbed on the skin is even more efficient, but unpleasant to use, and if left on long enough will burn the skin.

A 40 per cent solution of formaldehyde for mosquito bites gives remarkably quick and good results. It should be applied to the bites as soon as possible with the cork of the bottle, and allowed to dry on. Diluted ammonia is also used to rub on the bites.

Roach Exterminators

Borax, starch, and cocoa are said to be the principal ingredients of some of the roach foods on the market. A formula for a poison of this class is as follows:

Borax.............. 37 ounces

Starch.............. 9 ounces

Cocoa.............. 4 ounces

Moth Exterminators

Cold storage is the most effective means of avoiding the ravages of moths. Where this is impracticable, as in bureau drawers, camphor balls may be scattered about with satisfactory result. The following is also effective:

Spanish pepper..... 100 parts

Turpentine oil...... 50 parts

Camphor.......... 25 parts

Clove oil........... 10 parts

Alcohol, 96 per cent. 900 parts Cut the Spanish pepper into little bits, and pour over them the alcohol and oil of turpentine. Let stand 2 or 3 days, then decant, and press out. To the liquid thus obtained add the camphor and clove oil, let stand a few days, then filter and fill into suitable bottles. To use, imbibe bits of bibulous paper in the liquid and put them in the folds of clothing to be protected.

Protecting Stuffed Furniture from Moths

The stuffing, no matter whether consisting of tow, hair, or fiber, as well as the covering, should be coated with a 10 per cent solution of sulphur in carbon sulphide. The carbon sulphide dissolves the sulphur so as to cause a very fine division and to penetrate the fibers completely.

Powder to Keep Moths Away

Cloves.............. 2 ounces

Cinnamon.......... 2 ounces

Mace.............. 2 ounces

Black pepper........ 2 ounces

Orris root........... 2 ounces

Powder coarsely and mix well together.

Book-Worms

When these insects infest books they are most difficult to deal with, as the ordinary destructive agents injuriously affect the paper of the book. The books should be well beaten and exposed to the sun, and a rag moistened with formalin passed through the binding and the covers where possible. In other cases the bottom edge of the binding should be moistened with formalin before putting on the shelves, so that formaldehyde vapor can be diffused.

INSECT POWDERS

See Insecticides.