The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1939-1949, 1945-10-04
County Agents Column
By Walter L.
By Walter L. Click

L. Click
the dirty stove and flue, the flying
sparks that land on the roof.
Don't let your home be one OF
the 80, 900 that will burn this year
in America!
STORING CARROTS
Carrots which are packed in
layers of clean, moist sawdust will
store better than If kept in damp
sand or soil, recent USDA tests
indicate. Maybe you can get some
sawdust from shook mill or cab
met shop.
Although sawdust is preferred
for preventing rot and shriveling
in carrots, the best insulation for
beets is sand, according to the
tests.
In the tests, beets put in stor-
age room without insulation lost
up to 81 per cent Of their initial
weight during 80 days Of storage,
but those in layers Of moist sand
lost less than one per cent. 1t Is
recommended that clean, screened
sand, just moist enough to hold
its shape when pressed in the
hand. If the sand is too damp, It
hastens rotting.
Rot is much more prevalent In
stored carrots than in beets. Car
rots packed in layers Of sawdust
resulted in the least rot and
shrinkage, possibly because saw
dust does not pack as closely as
sand and soil.
Gardeners are reminded that
only mature, clean, perfect vege-
tables with no cuts, bruises or de-
cayed spots will keep long in stor-
age, and these must be put in a
storage place that. is clean, slightly
damp, dark, cool-below so de-
grees F.-and ventilated. In an or.
binary heated basement they will
keep only three of four weeks.
CHICKEN HOUSES
With many pullets at this ap-
preaching fall season being moved
into laying houses, a danger exc
lists that these young birds will
become infected unless the houses
have been thoroughly cleaned and
disinfected since the previous
flock left, points out Fred Frasier,
extension poultryman.
Before laying houses and equip
ment are used for a new batch Of
young birds, the feed hoppers,
watering equipment and other fur
nishings as well as the walls and
floors Of the house should be made
safe through using any Of the
standard disinfectants. Creoso1e,
carbolineum, whitewash are a.
mong the disinfectants recon-
by the extension poultry
man.
For the preliminary cleaning, q
solution Of hot water and I've IS as
good as anything I know Of" says
Frasier, s'the house should be
cleaned out, swept and thoroughly
scrubbed with the solution. Wash
all equipment with the lye water.
When floor, walls and furnishings
are dry, it is well they be disin-
fected with q solution made up
Of one pint Of creosol to IA quarts
Of warm water.
'This solution will kill almost
all kinds Of disease germs which
infect poultry. Strong solutions
Of either carbolic acid or creooote
will kill tuberculosis germs.
"Carbolineum is used to con-
troll mites. It is usually prepared
by mixing one part Of carbolin-
cum with one part Of oil. Use
kerosene, stove oil, or waste
crank-case oil for the latter. This
mixture should be sprayed on the
interior Of the house, especially
on nests, roosts, and roost sup
ports. A barrel-type sprayer or
other sprayer Of large capacity
is very satisfactory for applying
disinfectants. Do this ten days to
two weeks before birds are put
into the house. Be careful not TO
get the fresh carbolineum In your
eyes or on your skin while II II
fresh, and keep It away from the
birds for a few days. Properly
applied, carbolineum will keep the
mites under control for one year.
s'Whitewash can be prepared
by mixing one quart hydrated
lime, three tablespoons Of salt,
and three pints Of commercial
lime sulphur dip to 4 gallons Of
water"
Farmers wanting details on dis
infectants can get Extension Bull
letin PAS, "Disinfectants on the
Farm" from their county agri.
cultural agent.
All CLUBS ORGANIZED
On the first day for reorgani-
cation two Al clubs cot under