SC - Tempera question

[Laura C. Minnick]

Lady Katherine McGuire wrote:
> 
>   According to my sources, to combat the "bug" problem "foul smelling herbs,
> such as garlic were ground find and added to the eggs-pigment emulsion".
>    How good this would work I have no idea.  But a friend adds boric acid
> crystals to her egg tempora for just this reason.
> 
>   Lady Katherine McGuire

A career short order cook said to make pepper balls with _steel cut_
(not ground) black pepper and white glue, and throw them under the ovens
and ranges. For some reason, the lil' fellas don't like pungent aromas.
An old roommate and I used to keep gloves of garlic about the window
sills and atop the baseboard heater to discourage ants. Worked quite
well. Keep the less desirable two-legs away as well. :)

Seumas