TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS. 371 



trious little ant, but the big biirly roach kept right on in 

 the " even tenor of his way," and his way was a very bad 

 and exasperating way for us. 



But there seemed to be no help but to let him do as he 

 would with such of our jellies and sweetmeats as could not 

 be provided tin or cork tops. 



At last, however, we had a happy idea. We had tried 

 paper made stiff with paste, and paper without paste, and 

 we had tried muslin pasted tight over the glasses, but all 

 in vain; it remained to test muslin, pure and simple, tied 

 over the mouth of jar or glass, without paste, white of 

 egg, or any other addition. And this last exj)eriment, to 

 our comfort and relief, proved effective, and all annoyance 

 from this source ceased at once ; the addition of a paper 

 cover under the muslin excludes all dust, and, if they are 

 kept clean, no speck of the sweetmeat allowed to touch 

 them, both roaches and ants will pass them by in silent 

 contempt. 



No Florida house need be "overrun" with roaches. 

 There are several effective ways of waging w^ar on them 

 and keeping down the enemy, and no more annoyance 

 need be experienced from their presence than one has been 

 accustomed to in the old home. 



Clean out the closets every three or four months, and 

 dash plenty of scalding water over the shelves and into 

 the cracks between the boards, if there are any. It is far 

 better to see that there are no cracks there to form a harbor 

 for your enemies. Even if the house is only a box house, 

 and plaster or building-paper can not be afforded, we would 

 at least urge that the closets should be lined with the latter ; 

 it would save far more in work and worry than it would 

 cost in money. 



In the mean time, between the scalding visitations — and 

 here " mean time" designates all the time — keep powdered 



