Page:Husbandman and Housewife 1820.djvu/163

, new mode of preserving.

TAKE three parts of air slacked lime, two parts of wood ashes, and one part of fine sand; sift the whole and add as much linseed oil as will be necessary to form a mass which can be laid on with a painter's brush. To make this mixture perfect and more durable, it will be well to grind it on a marble—Two coats of it are all that are necessary; the first should be rather light, but the second must be put on as thick as the brush will permit. This composition thus prepared is impenetrable to water; resists both the influence of the weather and the action of the sun, which hardens and renders it more durable. The government of France has ordered that all gun carriages should be washed with this composition.

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DRESSINGS of sea manure, wetting the ground with sea water, soot, lime and ashes sprinkled on the ground, the refuse brine of salted meat, water in which walnut leaves have been steeped for two or three weeks are all antidotes to the ravages of worms. Water in which fresh cow dung has been steeped it is said is likewise useful for the same purpose. Water impregnated with tar or turpentine sprinkled on plants, would probably preserve them from all sorts of insects, as they are known to have a great aversion to all kinds of terebinthinate substances. Beds in gardens may be scalded with hot water, previous to seeds being sowed, or plants set out in them, which will destroy worms and their nits, and if they are then inclosed with boards, barks or any thing which will prevent the access of worms from other ground the plants will be secure. The ground where cabbage plants or any other plants are set may be previously well dug,