Beetles. — These objectionable insects very often
infest the ground floor and kitchen premises of our
houses. They disappear in the daytime and come
out at night through the cracks in the flooring, and
they multiply so rapidly that sometimes they can
be counted by the thousand. They will attack
food of all kinds, and even the leather of boots and
shoes. They have a horrible smell too, which hangs
about anything they come near.
Many different kinds of traps have been invented
for catching beetles, and they all serve their purpose
for the time being ; there are also different kinds of
beetle paste which can be used with success, and
instructions for using these are given with the
different preparations. One of thesimplest remedies,
and a very effectual one too, is the liberal use of
powdered borax. This should be sprinkled about
their haunts and repeated every night until the
beetles disappear.
Mice. — The best plan is to starve them out. All
eatables must be enclosed and nothing left that
would supply them with food. A cat or small dog
which is a good mouser will also help to hasten their
departure. A trap, too, is often very effectual in
catching a stray mouse here and there, and in
frightening away others. There are many differ-
ent kinds, but perhaps the old-fashioned make,
which catches the animal alive, are the most
humane ; others, which are supposed to kill in-
stantaneously, often succeed in only half doing it,
and so cause unnecessary suffering.
There are also different poisons which can be
bought for the destruction of mice, of which phos-
horous paste is perhaps the best ; but care must
e taken in using them, and especially if there are
domestic animals in the house.
Rats. — When rats enter a house, it is often a
sign of insanitary drainage, and if that is the case
the wrong must be seen to at once, and the neces-
sary repairs carried out. Or it may be that the
house is in close proximity to a stable, and the rats
have made their way into the house through some
holes. A trap is sometimes of good service for
catching the rats, and directions for baiting them
are usually given with each special kind. Poisoning
is another method ; but this must be done with
caution, and especially if there are any domestic
animals in the house. Another danger of poison-
ing is that the dead bodies of the rats sometimes
decompose under the flooring, and cause a very
bad smelL A small dog, a terrier, sometimes keeps
them away most effectively.
If the rats become numerous, a rat-catcher
should be employed, who will hunt the rats out
with trained ferrets. When once the vermin have
been got rid of, all holes by which they have entered
should be carefully filled up with cement or plaster.
Ants. — These are rarely seen in town houses,
but in the country they not infrequently appear.
They are very troublesome creatures to get rid of,
and sometimes different remedies have to be tried
before one succeeds. One of the best is to find
the opening through which the ants come, drop in
some quicklime, and wash it over with boiling
water. A strong solution of carbolic acid or spirits
of camphor might also be tried, as ants are very
averse to strong smells. Or, again, some petroleum
or tobacco juice poured over their nests is some-
times effectual.
PART II
COOKING STOVES AND THEIR
MANAGEMENT
THE KITCHEN RANGE
Page 22
Presented as published in 1914. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
Beetles. — These objectionable insects very often infest the ground floor and kitchen premises of our houses. They disappear in the daytime and come out at night through the cracks in the flooring, and they multiply so rapidly that sometimes they can be counted by the thousand. They will attack food of all kinds, and even the leather of boots and shoes. They have a horrible smell too, which hangs about anything they come near.
Many different kinds of traps have been invented for catching beetles, and they all serve their purpose
for the time being ; there are also different kinds of beetle paste which can be used with success, and instructions for using these are given with the different preparations. One of thesimplest remedies, and a very effectual one too, is the liberal use of powdered borax. This should be sprinkled about their haunts and repeated every night until the beetles disappear.
Mice. — The best plan is to starve them out. All eatables must be enclosed and nothing left that would supply them with food. A cat or small dog which is a good mouser will also help to hasten their departure. A trap, too, is often very effectual in catching a stray mouse here and there, and in frightening away others. There are many different kinds, but perhaps the old-fashioned make, which catches the animal alive, are the most humane ; others, which are supposed to kill instantaneously, often succeed in only half doing it, and so cause unnecessary suffering.
There are also different poisons which can be bought for the destruction of mice, of which phoshorous paste is perhaps the best ; but care must e taken in using them, and especially if there are domestic animals in the house.
Rats. — When rats enter a house, it is often a sign of insanitary drainage, and if that is the case the wrong must be seen to at once, and the necessary repairs carried out. Or it may be that the house is in close proximity to a stable, and the rats have made their way into the house through some holes. A trap is sometimes of good service for catching the rats, and directions for baiting them are usually given with each special kind. Poisoning is another method ; but this must be done with caution, and especially if there are any domestic animals in the house. Another danger of poisoning is that the dead bodies of the rats sometimes decompose under the flooring, and cause a very bad smell. A small dog, a terrier, sometimes keeps them away most effectively.
If the rats become numerous, a rat-catcher should be employed, who will hunt the rats out with trained ferrets. When once the vermin have been got rid of, all holes by which they have entered should be carefully filled up with cement or plaster.
Ants. — These are rarely seen in town houses, but in the country they not infrequently appear. They are very troublesome creatures to get rid of, and sometimes different remedies have to be tried before one succeeds. One of the best is to find the opening through which the ants come, drop in some quicklime, and wash it over with boiling water. A strong solution of carbolic acid or spirits of camphor might also be tried, as ants are very averse to strong smells. Or, again, some petroleum or tobacco juice poured over their nests is sometimes effectual.
COOKING STOVES AND THEIR MANAGEMENT
THE KITCHEN RANGE