How to Guard Against Summer Pests

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 262, 26 January 1928, Page 8

How to Guard Against Summer Pests

Annoyance From Mosquitoes and Flies Mosquitoes and other insects are more than usually troublesome in the summer, even in a climate like Auckland’s and holiday-makers and country residents generally suffer great discomfort. Fortunately beyond the irritation there is no danger in a bite of any of our insects in this country. But the irritation is enough of itself to make measures against bites w-orth taking. There are many applications which, after they are applied, will keep most insects away for some time and these are particularly useful at night. Among them are most of the essential oils, for the odour of which all insects have a great dislike. Protectives can be obtained from a chemist and they are all more or less effective protectives. The two most useful for banishing insects are lavender and pennyroyal oils, suitably dil-

uted by a chemist with alcohol and water. Other protectives are the oils of cloves, eucalyptus, rosemary and cajeput, which should also be obtained diluted from a chemist. But a combination of drugs is better than any one alone and the following will be found most efficacious: —Oil of lavender, 24 minims; spirit of camphor, lioz.; oil of eucalyptus. 3 drachms; soap liniment, 3oz. Just the merest trace of this is to be smeared over the wrists, hands, ankles and so on when the insects are troublesome. Even a more effective preventive j much used in India is the following: Oil of bergamont, 4 drachms; oil of ' cloves, 4 drachms; oil of lavender, 4 j drachms; oil of turpentine, 20z.; sul- j phate of quinine, 20 grains; rectified spirit. 8oz.; water to one pint. As j the drugs are dear, one can ask the ! chemist for one-tenth of this quantity, j or 20z., which should be sufficient to j last for a few weeks. It should be I applied in the same way as the first i mixture. FANCY JELLIES FOR PARTIES Make a jelly in the ordinary way and pour it into a glass dish. Make some blancmange in two colours, chocolate and pink. Put into egg cups instead of moulds, and when set turn cut on the hard jelly so that it is decorated with what appears to be brown and pink eggs. One or two white ones might also be added for the sake of realism.