ON SHEEP'S WOOL. 115. 



October, a great number of winged moths may be 

 destroyed : they are prevented from, or not allowed 

 to complete the laying of their eggs, and of course 

 there are not so many eating moths in the wool. A 

 child is capable of taking care of it in this way. 



Q. Are there not several methods of preserving 

 wool from moths ? 



A. It is known, that wool which is kept in its 

 grease is less subject to be spoiled by moths, than 

 that which has been scoured or only washed. If 

 there be placed in a storehouse of uncleansed wool, 

 some poor fleeces which have been cleansed, the 

 moth-flies will lay their eggs in these fleeces, in pre- 

 ference to those which are uncleansed. If these 

 fleeces are burned before the moths leave them to 

 take the form of chrysalis, the caterpillars are destroy- 

 ed, and thus prevented from becoming moth-flies, 

 which would produce a great number of eggs. 



It is pretended, that the smell of camphire or spirits 

 of turpentine will preserve wool from moths. These 

 smells may remove them, if they can find other wool ; 

 but for the want of it, they will become accustomed 

 to the smell of camphire and turpentine. 



The vapour of sulphur kills winged moths ; but it 

 is necessary, that it be concentrated within a small 

 space. This cannot be done in a wool store ; particu- 

 larly as it would give it a bad smell. The smell of 

 camphire is also very disagreeable : it is better to beat 

 the wool in the store, and to kill the butterfly moths : 

 this is the method with the furriers, who, to preserve 

 their furs, beat them, and pursue the butterfly- moths, 

 as soon as they observe them. 



