The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1939-1949, 1948-10-28
a New Housing Threat

cause houses to deteriorate. How
ever, new headache has turned
up for a few Washington home
owners. It's Dry Rot. a fungus
growth fully Is destructive IS
teTmites.
DR.. Marion Harris, Washington
State Extension Service Plant
Pathologist, says that the mold
growth has cropped up in several
areas in the state. He has found
the fungus in several easements
and root cellars. He gives this in
formation relative to this new
threat: The fungus enters into
the timbers and if not checked,
will extend throughout the house.
even to rafters.
The fungus can be identified by
dense mats Of white moldy growth
between pieces Of wood nailed to-
gefher in the house. Or it's pre-
sence may be indicated by a white,
dark brown or black spongy mass
growing out Of the basement tim
bers which are not covered by
plaster or paint. The spongy mass
gives off a growth Of spores which
cover everything with . brown
dust.
DR.. Harris suggests the follow
ing as control measures: First,
find and remove the piece Of TIM
Der through which the mold Isl
entering the house. Find and rel
move all infected boards. Third,
keep the replaced boards from |
coming in contact with the soil.
Two New Alfalfas Available
have been advised this week
by Extension Agronomist ]. L.
Chapman that there are two new
specialized alfalfa varieties recent
ly released by the United States
Department Of Agriculture, and
are now, available to Washington
farmers for certified seed pro-
duchon: These are Buffalo, which
IS available for the first time this
year. annd Ranger, which has
been available n limited quaint.
ties for the last year or %. Both
OF these varieties aro resistant to
bacterial wilt, which causes con-.
siderable damage In alfalfa stands.
Chapman says that the supply oil
both Buffalo and Ranger seed has
already been allotted for l949.
Growers interested. however.
should make application inmedi.
ateay for 1850. Such applications
should 60 through the County,
Agents office.
8e1sp
During the war It was not un-
common to have urgent cabs for
collection Of scrap and to oreanizal
groups for scrap collection. The
Secretary Of Commerce Il making
an urgent appeal to the Department.
OF Agriculture to enlist the aid az
farmers In the collection Of IRON
and steel. The reason for thie Il
that even at the present hiRh
rate Of production, 80 million tons
annually, there Is not nearly
enough steel to meet the current
demands Of our domestic economy.
military requirements. and Euro.
pean recovery program.
The productive capacitv az the
iron and steel industry has In
creased since the war. Thus. they
require additional supplies ofl
scrap. The heavy drain on scran
during the war disipated much Of
the available supply. In addition.
with steel production running II
a record peace-tine rate, the sup
ply OF total melting stock e low
er than at any time during the
war. An acute shortage Is expec4-
ed to occur during this fan and
winter.
There are two types Of scrap
that industry produces. That e i
purchase scrap and home scr,n
Home scrap Is the waste Of bv
products Of operations within the
steel mills and 6oundries. pur.
chase scrap is generally materials
such - old railroad cars and
trucks, broken up ships, wrecked
buildings and the like. 50 ali OIL
the materials which the farmers
are expected to contribute NAV
come In this group Of obsolete
farm machinery or castings around
the farm. While there viii be ~
organized scrap drive thi, wear
those who have scrap for sale
should make every effort TO eet
in contact with scrap dealers Sal
that this material can be started
On Its way to the steel mills. Every
ton OF scrap the farmer sells. when
combined with other materials
will produce between 3 and a
tons Of steel. We have done our
bit In war time, We can also do
IL In peace time.
8ouas&hing TO Think About
Many Of US take electricity asI
something for. granted. We hire .
man. He comes 70 the house and
istalls the wiring and we take
il for granted that when Ne t,,rn