USEFUL REFEREXCES 



651 



gum from jak-fruit ; place these af intervals where the sparrows collect, and 

 they will soon disappear. 



To make Bird lime. Boil } pint linseed oil, and while boiling add a 

 lump of resin about the size of a hen's egg. Add two tea-spoonfuls of treacle 

 and stir frequently while cooling. 



A simple fly-trap. Pour some water into a finger-bowl, or other 

 wide-mouthed vessel, till the surface of the liquid is about an inch from the 

 brim. Add a small quantity of oil (coconut or castor) to make a superficial film. 

 In the centre of a piece of card-board, sufficiently large to cover the vessel, cut 

 a small hole about i inch in diameter. Smear some condensed milk or honey 

 on one side of the card- board round the central nperture, and place the card- 

 board over the vessel so that the smeared side is below. The flies will creep 

 into the enclosed space and meet with an oily grave. A tap on the card will at 

 once precipitate all those resting on its under surface. The oil-film is necessary, 

 as flies are not easily wetted by water alone, from which they often succeed in 

 saving themselves. 



Book preservative. I have found the following an excellent preser- 

 vative for books, as well as a preventive against insects and moulds, which are 

 so destructive to books in the tropics: Dissolve Canada balsam in turpentine, say 

 2 oz. of the former to 4 oz. of the latter, so as to make a weak solution; paint 

 this over the covers or bindings of the books, and let them stand a few hours 

 to dry. 



Another recipe. Paint the books lightly over both outside and inside 

 the cover (and especially along the backs, where paste has been used), with the 

 following mixture, using a soft brush for the purpose: 1 oz. corrosive sublimate; 

 1 oz. carbolic acid; 2 pints methylated spirit. No harm will be done to the 

 books, and after the mixture has dried they may be handled with perfect safety. 



USEFUL FERTILISING MIXTURES. 



.000 Ib. Cost F.O.R. Colombo, 

 Rs. 154 per ton. 



36-0 

 30'0 

 50-0 



