98 
THE YOUNG SCIENTIST. 
ceed to work, gnawing the substances within 
their reach, and covering themselves with the 
fragments, which they shape into hollow rolls 
and line with silk. These rolls are by some 
carried on their backs as they move along, and 
by others fastened to the substance they are 
feeding upon, and they are enlarged from time 
to time by additions to the open extremities, 
and by portions let into the sides, which are 
split open for this purpose. In such ambush 
the worms carry on their work of destruction 
through the summer; rest, in seeming torpor, 
during the winter, and change to chrysalids 
early in the spring. They transform again in 
twenty days, and issue from their shelter as 
winged moths, to fly about in the evening till 
they have paired and are ready to lay eggs. 
Then follows an invasion of dark closets, 
chests, and drawers, edges of carpets, folds of 
curtains, and hanging garments, and the foun- 
dation of a new colony is swiftly laid. The 
early days of June should herald vigorous and 
exterminating warfare against these subtle 
pests. Closets, wardrobes, all receptacles for 
clothing, should be emptied and laid open, 
their contents thoroughly exposed to light and 
air, and well brushed and shaken before being 
replaced. In old houses much infested with 
moths, all cracks in floors, wainscots, shelves, 
or furniture, should be brushed over with 
spirits of turpentine. Camphor or tobacco 
should be placed among all garments, furs, 
plumes, etc., when laid aside for the summer. 
To secure cloth linings of carriages from the 
attacks of moths, sponge them on both sides 
with a solution of corrosive sublimate of mer- 
cury in alcohol, made just strong enough not 
to leave a white mark on a black leather. 
Moths may be killed by fumigating the article 
containing them with tobacco or sulphur, or 
by putting it, if practicable, into an oven 
heated to about 150° Fab." 
A Iiarge Musical Box—The Khedive has 
recently bad made for him in Geneva what is said 
to be the largest musical box ever constructei. 
The ease is of inlaid ebony. The instrument will 
play 132 tunes; it has eleven cylinders, and is fur- 
nished with flute, flute basso, drum, bells, and 
castanets. Each cylinder is 26 inches long. The 
box has cost £800. 
Cementing Labels to Metal. — For attaching 
labels to tin and other bright metallic surfaces, 
first rub the surface with a mixture of muriatic 
acid and alcohol ; then apply the label with a very 
thin coating of the paste, and it will adliere almost 
as well as on glass. 
Stand for Cut Flowers. — A very pretty efiect in 
the parlor or living room may be made by procuring 
a number of short vials something over an inch in 
diameter, or so large that they will stand firmly. In 
these place single roses, or other double blooms,, 
with fern leaves or other pretty foliage below them. 
They will last thus a week, and be very beautiful. 
Cure for Burns.—A solution of bicarbonate of 
sodium applied to burns, promptly and perman- 
ently relieves all pain. A laboratory assistant in 
Philadelphia having severely burned the inside of 
the last joint of his thumb, while bending glass 
tubing, applied the solution of bicarbonate of soda, 
and not only was the pain allayed, but the thumb 
could be at once freely used without inconvenience. 
Bicarbonate of soda is simply the best baking soda^ 
Another House Fired by a Milk Can. 
Mr. Miles T. Frisbie, of Otisco Valley, N. Y., writes 
us that some years ago, on a hot day, he was some- 
what astonished by seeing a smoke in his back 
kitchen, and tracing it to the wall, he found that 
the house had been set on fire by a pail with a con- 
cave bottom,which was set on a bench about 6 inches- 
from the house. If the family had not been at home, 
the house would no doubt have been consumed. 
Case Hardening—Mr. F. H. Wenham, who is 
one of the most skilful scientific mechanics in Eng- 
land, contributes to the "English Mechanic" the 
following note on this subject; "In the directions 
generally given for this process, it is stated that 
the articles should be inclosed in a crucible or iron 
box filled with bone charcoal and carefully luted 
with loam. This is by no means necessary. The 
best practice in case hardening is to be seen in the 
lockwork and furniture of small arms. I have seen 
gunsmiths use a sheet-iron tray like a small frying- 
pan. A layer of fresh bone-dust is spread over the 
bottom of this, upon which the small finished and 
polished iron fittings are laid, avoiding actual con- 
tact with each other. Another layer of fresh bone- 
dust is spread over, so as to completely cover the 
articles. The tray is now filled to the top with 
burnt bone powder that has been used and ex- 
hausted by a previous operation. The tray is kept 
at a cherry-red heat over an open fire for about 
half an hour, and then the whole contents are in- 
stantly turned out into a vessel of cold water, and 
the articles will be as hard as possible, with the 
pretty mottled appearance characteristic of this 
kind of work. The bones are charred only suf- 
ficient to drive off the vapor, and just enable them 
to be coarsely powdered with a hammer. There is 
