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ANTS, ROACHES, LITTLE SPIDERS, ETC.4
pests. It says: "Hot alum water is a recent suggestion as an insecticide, (insect killer). It will destroy red and black ants, roaches, spiders, chintz (striped or spotted) bugs, and all crawling pests which infest our houses. Dissolve alum, 2 lbs. in 3 or 4 qts. of boiling water; then apply it with a brush, while nearly boiling hot, to every joint and crevice in your closets, bedsteads, pantry shelves and the like. Brush the crevices in the floor of the skirting or mop boards, if you suspect that they harbor vermin. If, in whitewashing a ceiling, plenty of alum is added to the lime, it will also serve to keep insects at a distance, and also cause the white-wash to stick better; 2 lbs. to a pail is enough. Roaches will flee the paint which has been washed in cool alum water of this strength.
Remarks. —This is confirmed by the Cincinnati Times, only the Times recommended it as strong as 2 lbs. to 2 qts. of water, put on hot with a whitewash brush. It also recommends carbolic acid diluted with water, and applied with a brush of feathers for the destruction of red ants; and says: "If they do not leave the first time, apply again stronger, " but it does not give the proper strength. The crude, or black, dirty acid, which the crude is, could not be used on shelves in the cupboard or closets, hut the pure, which is clean and transparent would have to be used, such as druggists sell, of about 50 per cent, strength, for about 25 cts. an oz. This strength would kill them certainly, and I think if as much water is added, it would still be strong enough.
Roaches may he driven away by putting Scotch, or other highly dried snuff into their haunts, or crevices, and about the shelves, etc.
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