More about moths

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sRICULTURE

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MAT TON-«
8, Dopartmont AA gpioulture

EBPERS!' CHAT Thursday, April 5, 1934.
(FOR BROADCAST USE ONLY)

st: "More About Moths." Information from the Bureau of antomology and the
mn of Home Economics, U.S.D.A.

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The good, old-fashioned neat-and-tidy housekeeper whose home is always
ean that it fairly shines, who was an enthusiast about washing and scrubbing
Mlishing, to say nothing of airing and brushing and sunning --you know the
‘of housekeeper I mean -- well, sne's had a lot of fun poked at her. She's
Thad to endure many mean remarks. But she has mech in her favor just the
Don't thinks I'm setting vn an immacvlate household as the end and aim of
Ys existence. And don't get the idea that I admire the pnainfully neat lady
Imost has hysterics if she sees a bit of dust. I'm just saying that careful
@gular cleaning of the house pays -- ves, even in the far corners and the
$and crannies ~- pays not only in looks but also in an actual saving of

irs and cents.

I have many illustrations to wrove that. For example, textile experts
meli you that keeping all household fabrics clean prolongs their life con-
ably. Dust wears out faorics. Sharp particles of dust and dirt ground into
Will wear down the fibres in time. So frequent cleaning saves the rugs.

wn kinds of dust rot window curtains and hangings, unless they get frequent

That's just one small example. <A better illustration, which anplies

Clally at this time of vear, nas to do with those small but powerful enemies
family pocketbook -- clothes inoths. Moths do thousands of dollars! worth
mase every year. Ther are dangerous and expensive pests to allow around the
And cleanliness is one of the best weanons against then.

)2f you clean all your wool clothes -- wash them or dry-clean them or

mily brush, air and sun them -- and then if you put tien avay in moth-proof
ainers, you don't need to fear these troublesome nests. As far as moths are
med, care and cleanliness may save you a good deal of money.

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) If you have woolens and furs that you won't be needing again until fall,
whe time to store them out of reach of moths, if you haven't done it

We Motas often get in their dirty work on the forgotten coat or the

wed dress -- the garment you meant to clean and store away when vou found
Give a moth a soiled wool garment in a quiet dark place and he'll just
down to getting fat and prosperous and raising his family ?n comfort.

4en you. finally remember that garment, hopeless damage may be done.

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"So get out your woolens and furs and give them a good cleaning. Take them
mto the sun and brush and air them well. Zo be doubly safe, wash the
iS that are washable and Fuve the oters cleaned. But thorough brushing,

fignt be in it. Then pack the clothes away immediately where the moths can't

b them, You can wrap them with heavy unbrolren paver and seal all the edges

Bommed pamer strips. Or you can hens dressus and coats in garment vags

Bre entirely tight -- not even the tiniest opening for moths to enter. Be

that the bag is carefully sealed wround the top where the hanger comes out.

pr safe mnlace to store woolens is a well-made cedar chest, that is, if the

Ms are clean when they go in. Since t:1:ks and even well-built boxes are

Mways entirely tight, any clothes stérved in such places are safer if a nound
bhalene or paradichlorebenzene crysvals are sprinkled in with them. These

@ls are inexpensive and keep moths out. Napthalene comes in the form of

s or moth bails.

Don't make the mistake of thimncing that your clothes are safe by putting
Mehalene or paradichlorobenzene in your closet. The fumes from these
tals mist be very concentrated if they are effective, so use them only in
menests or compartments where the fumes can't escape.

How valuable are cedar chests against moth enemies? Well, the scientists
have been investigating say that a good cedar chest made of red cedar heart-
mat least three-fourths of an inch thick with a cover of solid red cedar will
mall the newly hatched or very young larvae of clothes moths. Eut you can't

@ on the cedar to kill the motns or miller or the eggs or even to destroy
ttle worms after they are half or full grown. It's only the youngest babies
family, you sec, that succuab in a cedar chest. That's why the experts

w% that only clean clothes, absolutely free from moth eggs and worms are safe
ese chests.

Here's a point worth knowing abovt the so-called "moth-proof" bags. The
ise of these bags is not to kill moths, Mut to keep them out. So bags made
@in heavy paver are just as safe as those containing tar or cedar or pine
@he value cf the bag lies in its tightness.

Cleanliness in your clothes closet is also a proteétion against moths.

pee, dust that collects on the floor often collects a moth family, Dust on a
mshelf may do the same. But a ligt, clean, well-ventilated closet dis-

ases these unwelcome visitors.

The experts on the ways of houseliold pests say that many people are using
less remedies against moths -- substances that have no effect at all.

0 extracts don't bother moths. ifeither do dried lavender flowers nor cayenne
ack pepoer, allsnice, salt, borax, encalyntus leaves nor red cedar leaves,
Save by going after moths scientifically and by not snending your money
rthless remedies. And, as we mentioned at the beginning, scientists are in
'Of absolute cleanliness as the safest and cheapest protection.

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