278 
DESTRUCTION OF INSECTS. 
having ready some tobacco wrapped in paper previously soaked 
in nitre, this set on fire and inclosed with the insects, will con¬ 
tinue to burn, and infallibly destroy them ; the quantity of tobacco 
must be regulated by the space designed to fill; for such a thing 
as a single geranium shut in a box two feet square a moderate 
pinch is sufficient, half an ounce will fill a small room. 
Wasps’ nests may be destroyed without incurring danger by 
the following method : ascertain exactly where the entrance is, 
and if there should be more than one, stop the others up ; in the 
evening when all the wasps are in, take a pint bottle, put two 
teaspoonfuls of spirit of turpentine into it, and insert the neck of 
the bottle into the hole, stopping it round closely with soft earth ; 
the fumes of the turpentine will speedily kill all that are alive, 
and in a couple of days the nest may be dug out. This is an 
excellent method when the nest is in a bank, and otherwise diffi¬ 
cult to get at. A squib, of two thirds sulphur and the remainder 
gunpowder, used in the same manner, will kill all that are in the 
hole in an hour. We have destroyed a great number by pouring 
boiling water on the nest when it has been in a position to allow 
it, but it requires a quick sight and some coolness, or the conse¬ 
quences may be rather unpleasant. 
The appearance, comfort, and health of goldfish, when kept in 
glasses, may be greatly benefited by merely placing in the water 
a handful of moss ; it has a pleasing effect, affords the fish a 
desired screen from strong light, and gives them an opportunity 
of rubbing off the disgusting parasite so frequently fatal to them. 
In the autumn, and after heavy showers, lawns and paths are 
sadly disfigured by worms. In the endeavour to keep their air- 
drains open, they throw up a great quantity of soft mould. That 
by these means a positive benefit to the roots of plants arises 
cannot be denied; yet in some cases it may be desirable to prevent 
an accumulation of earth cast on the surface, or at least to reduce 
the number of these excavators : an ounce of corrosive sublimate 
dissolved in a gallon of water, and sprinkled over the place, will 
immediately cause every worm within its influence to come to the 
surface. As this mixture is poisonous, care should be taken in 
the using ; nor should it be put into an iron pot until- diluted, 
or the corrosive nature of the salt will materially injure. The 
proportion mentioned is quite innoxious to vegetation. 
