TO COMBAT DRY ROT.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXXIX, Issue 6335, 1 May 1923, Page 6

TO COMBAT DRY ROT.

When dry rot appears in a house it should he treated without delay. The presence 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 moisture. 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 the 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 the recurrence of the dry rot.