The Dreaded Moth.

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 85, 5 January 1926, Page 2

The Dreaded Moth.

This is the season of the year when precautions against the damaging moth should be taken, for the small grubs which arc the real pest are beginning to be active. It has been estimated by an Englishman that the value of articles destroyed by the clothes moth in the course of a year is £1,000,090. An American has gone further and has suggested that £40.000,000 would be a nearer estimate. Of course such calculations cannot be taken as trustworthy, but there is no doubt that all over the world, except perhaps in the Arctic regions, where probably the cold is too sever for the corrupting’ moth, it is a dreaded pest, states an Australian exchange. The quoted value of goods ruined by the harmless looking little insect does not relate only to damage done to domestic articles and to clothing, for it also covers the loss and trouble of manufacturers. It was stated a little while back in the “London Daily Telegraph” that a satisf <ctorv way of preventing the nuisance had at last been discovered, and the remedy is described as being odourless, and harmless to tme human skin or fabrics, and as affording permanent protection against moths. It is also stated that it is of a metallic nature, and therefore is neither volatile nor ephemeral in action.. An aqueous solution is made in which the material is immersed in the final stares of manufacture, or the powder, dissolved in petrol, can be used in a drv cleaning process. All. this sounds very satisfactory until it is realised that the preparation is at present a secret one rs far as the public is concerned. and all facts about it are being ieoloush guard’d bv the woollen manufacturers of England, who propose to use it themselves, and it is tliev who will put the moth-proof material on the world’s market. We are told that it has taken eight years to make tlie process perfect, and during that lime it was necessary to obtain full knowledge of the habits and life cycle of the moth, It took au entomologist three yeats to complete Lis investigations, and he used 1000 moth eggs ,i day for test and research. Then a film was taken of the moths, . their eggs, and the grub, and the picture also thou cd them at work destroying material, while other cloth . treated with the preparation and subjected to identical conditions remained untouched. This may be encouraging for Ibe futi.te, but at present matters Stand where they were, and the little pest is at toe present moment an active one. So those who ate storing (urs mid other winter garments should take the ordinary precautions of shaking well and exposing the articles in which moths may be suspected to exist, to the sunlight. If there are signs o ft he grub the part affected should be treated to the strong steam from the spout of a kettle half full of boiling water. Applications of -any . of the volatile- sprays which ore being cxtem-ivelv advertised are. also efficacious. When the garments arc being repacked Epsom salts shquld be sprinkled in the folds. It is .w'-C." tantalising to learn that there is at last a mre preventive, mid not to know what it really is nor where it can be obtained.

In the "Morning Post” (London) the engagement is announced between Captain 'Douglas Richmond Stanley, 3/3 Bombay Pioneers, son of Mr. E. C. Stanley, of Hamilton, New Zealand, and Dorothy Alice Denman, eldest daughter of'the late Dr. John Cropper and'Mrs Cropper, Mount Ballan, Chepstow.