MISCELLANEOUS. 541 



building chimneys, keep a mortar-board of mortar for the purpose of 

 plastering them upon the inside as the work goes on, tempered up by adding 

 one-fourth as much common salt as of mortar, which forms a glaze that soot 

 can not stick to, and hence there is none to burn. " Prevention is better than 

 cure." 



2. Chimneys, to BTxild to Avoid Smoking.— A builder of long 

 experience says: " To build a chimney that shall not smoke, give a large space 

 immediately above the throat, wliich will cause a draft. It may then be nar- 

 rowed, if desirable." This is good logic. 



3. Chimneys, Sky-lights, etc., to Stop Leaks.— Take fine, white 

 sand, 20 measures; lithaige, 2; freshly slacked lime, 1; mix evenly together, 

 dry; then wet to the consistence of soft putty with boiled linseed oil. It sets 

 quickly, and forms a hard and durable cement. 



1. Moths in Carpets, to Prevent.— "Wet the floor around the edge 

 of the room thoroughly with spirits of turpentine before laying the carpet, 

 apply with a brush as you would paint; it kills the nits or eggs under the base, 

 and also prevents further nesting. Salt sprinkled freely about the edge and 

 over the whole carpet, while sweeping, is not only a preventive, but it also helps 

 10 remove dirt, and if damp, prevents dust from rising while sweeping. 



2. Moths in Carpets, To Destroy, Without Taking Up.— 

 On parts of a carpet where moths are suspected lay a coarse towel, slightly 

 wrung out of clear water, spreading out smoothly; then place a piece of firm 

 wrapping paper upon the wet towel to keep in the steam, and iron it thoroughly 

 with a hot iron. If thoroughly done, the heat and steam kills them. Repeat 

 at any time if satisfied more have hatched and come out from under the base 

 or other hiding places. It does not injure the carpet, nor fade the colors, and 

 does not need hard pressure, as it is the heat and steam that kills them. — Tlie 

 Houseliold. 



3. Moths in Upholstered Furniture, Certain Remedy, Also 

 Good for Furs, Flannels, etc.— A writer in one of tlie Grand Rapids' 

 (Mich.) papers says, upon these subjects: "A sort of trade secret among 

 upholsterers for ridding upholstered furniture of moths, is the following"; and 

 gives an example: " A set of furniture '.hat seemed to be alive with the larvse 

 (the insect moth in its first stage of development,) from the time it came new, 

 and from which hundreds of these pest, aad been picked and brushed, was set 

 in a room by itself. Three gallons of benzine were purchased at 30 cents a gal- 

 lon, retail. Using a small watering pot with a fine rose sprinkler, the whole 

 upholstery was saturated through and through with the benzine. Result — 

 Every moth, larvae and egg were killed. The benzine dried out in a few hours, 

 and its entire odor disappeared in 3 or 4 days. Not the slightest harm happened 

 to the varnish, or wood, or fabrics, or hair stuffing. That was months ago, and 

 not a sign of a moth has since appeared. The carpets were also well sprinkled 

 all round the sides of the room, with equally good effect. For furs, flannels, 

 indeed, all woolen articles containing moths, benzine is most valuable. Put 



