628 EVERYDAY SCIENCE 



in the end it is the most economical. But if you do not own the 

 house, or for some other reason you find it impracticable to make 

 the necessary alterations, conditions may be greatly improved by 

 a simple expedient. 



Place one or more earthenware bowls of quicklime in the closets 

 or cellar-rooms. The amount of quicklime will depend on the size 

 of the closet or room. Quicklime rapidly absorbs moisture from 

 the air (p. 141 of this book) and counteracts stale odors common 

 to such places. This drying, of the atmosphere lessens the 

 danger of rust and mildew. Moreover, the odor of quicklime 

 apparently repels insects and mice that are likely to congregate 

 in such places. 



When the lime becomes air-slaked, substitute a fresh supply. 

 Do not throw the air-slaked lime away; you may find it useful 

 for your lawn or garden (p. '315 of this book; see also Project 

 XXXVI). 



PROJECT L. How to Pasteurize Milk at Home, 

 pages 446-447 



Choose a covered pail large enough to hold the bottle or jar in 

 which the milk is contained. Obtain a pie tin that just about fits 

 inside the bottom of the pail. Perforate the pie tin and place it, 

 inverted, in the pail. On this false bottom set the bottle, or bottles, 

 of milk, tightly capped or plugged with absorbent cotton. If you 

 buy your milk in bulk rather than in bottle put it in a Ball-Mason 

 jar, sterilized as for canning vegetables (Project XLI). Adjust the 

 rubber, screw down the cap tightly, and put the jar into the pail. 

 Fill the pail with water enough to rise to the neck of the bottle but 

 not to reach the mouth of the bottle. The water should be as 

 warm as possible without being hot enough to break the bottle. 



Now cover the pail, put it on the stove, and bring the water to 

 a boil. The minute the water begins to boil, not simmer, remove 

 the pail and its contents from the stove, set it in a place where 

 it will not lose heat rapidly, and cover it with a heavy cloth. Let 

 it so remain for thirty minutes. Then remove the milk bottle from 



