TO COMBAT DRY ROT

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 177, 14 April 1923, Page 15

TO COMBAT DRY ROT

When dry rot appears in a house it should be treated without delay. The pi&sonc.. of this destructive fungus is indicated. by a reddish powder—actually the spores of the plant—which usually settles on surrounding positions. In bad cases it may be needful to have the floor taken up and replaced by new wood (states a writer in the “Daily Mail”). Free ventilation will hamper the activities of dry rot, which cannot flourish .without a considerable amount of moijwre. Often the putting in of an air brick will prevent the recurrence of the trouble, although the fungus is always likely to appear again when once it has found its way into the house. If the dry rot has not obtained a serious hold there is no better way of killing tho fungus than by the use of salt. Dissolve salt in boiling water until no more is taken up. Then brush this solution over all wood that is affected and also the adjoining parts. A few days later throw dry salt over the wood; this absorbs the moisture from the air and as it melts it will slowly sink into the wood. At a later date put more salt on the wood and there will be. no fear of toe recurrence of the dry rot.