Evening star., 1941-07-05
First Aid
For the
AHing House
By ROGER b. WHITMAN.

To 4 garden lover 1t Is a grief and
q cause for anguish to find that
cherished flower bed has been torn
up by dogs and cats, and that
shrubbery has been ruined. One
way to keep them off is to make a
barrier of moth balls pressed into
the surface of the ground with the
foot. Another is to make use of
preparations sold at garden and seed
stores. Some of these are contained
In perforated tin cans, to be hung
on low branches of shrubbery. Others
are liquids to be sprayed about:
LIQUIDS that are not injurious to
animals or to vegetation, but which
have odors that the animals dislike.
Dogs can be kept from defacing
posts and fences with solution of
moth crystals-paradi-in clear gas
oline: as much as will be dissolved.
When this is sprayed on, the liquid
will quickly evaporate, leaving fine
CRYSTALS In the wood or stone. This
should not be used on tree trunks.
for it is injurious to vegetation.
Insulating Lath.
@. l am building a solid brick
house and planning to put the
plaster on lath, covered on one side
with aluminium foil. How much in
sulation does this give? Where
would it do the most good; on out
side walls or ceiling?
A. When properly placed. foil
gives excellent insulation, and has
the advantage of being proof against
the passage of moisture. 1t should
be placed on Turing strips at least
one inch thick with the foil toward
the brick work I should use it
for side walls as we'll as ceilings.
Termites.
The many questions that have
come in on the control of termites
can hardly be answered here because |
the subject is too broad to include
within the space at my disposal.
However, information can be had
from the United States Department |
of Agriculture. Washington, and
from the Department of Agriculture
of each State. The State univer-
stiles and colleges of agriculture
are usually able to supply lnfor-
nation.
, Insulation.
@. I want to insulate a fiat roof
now covered with asphalt roofing.
! am told that stiff insulating sheet |
will warp and that the vibration OF
the building will cause rock wool
10 settle and to draw away from the
walls. Is that so?
A. When stiff insulating sheets
are built into the underside OF a |
roof and thus protected against |
moisture, they should not warp. |
When properly applied, rock wool
should not settle: settlement may |
occur only when the rock wool is
loosely put in. Rock wool in the
form of pads should not show signs
of settlement.
Shading Windows
q. What do you think IS the
most effective method for keeping
out heat from second-f1oor windows
fully exposed to sunshine?
A. I have had more satisfaction
with outside Venetian blinds than
with anything else. These do not
confne heated air against the win
dows, as may be the case with avn
tngs. and they seem to promote cir
culation of the air In room. A
new form is on the market screen
that resembles a Venetian blind
with very narrow Stats. held rigidly,
and combined with an insect screen.
These admit light, but keep out
direct heat from the sun. Manu-
facturers of these and of outside
Venetian blinds can be located by
writing to the Architects Samples
Exhibit, 1ol Park avenue, New York
City.
Muddy Road.
@. My country house is some dis
tance from the main road. In rains
our driveway is so muddy that it
cannot be used. How can 1t be
made usable in all weather?
A. For permanent results, you
should excavate and put in foun-
dation that will give drainage and
support the road surface. The
method depends on the lay of the
land. Your best move will be to
talk it over with the local road
commissioner. Send 10 cents IN
coin to the Superintendent of Docu-
ments. Washington, for Agriculture
Publication 272, Con
struction of Private Driveways."
New Roof.
q. After IS years wood shingles
on the roof of my bungalow are
badly warped. Must take them off
before putting on asphalt shingles?