POISON IN CELLARS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3605, 2 December 1905, Page 4

POISON IN CELLARS.

Rotting Vegetables «u»d Fruit* P»o----dMt Carbonic Gas, a Deadly , -,r D|ie:i»« lireedcr.

Sajis J. J. H. Gregory, the well-known seedsman and vegetable grower; ‘*A cellar may be more valuable i bail the buildlngjyhltaji stands on it whew the larmcr has learned just how to control its temperature and dryne&s lor the best kei ping of his vegetables.” Cellars have generally been found 1 to be unhealthy. Vegetables are frequently left over to rot. While rotting, carbonic acid, gas is fo:med. This gas is heavier than common air, and settle* to the bottom of the cellar. It is very unhealthy, and people when entering the liar, are liable to breathe it. If •Vr.-i. lAiilfieirntiy pure and breathed alone it w-u'd -soon-cause death,. In a section rrir-h a (tested with a malignant fever 1; found that in every case where : the. b /er prevailed there was a cellar, ■■■■■■■■■while the, houses where there were no cellars were generally exempt. Where cellars are thus used a covered drain of proper,size leading out- ■ ward, from the bottom of the cellar rihntiid be constructed.' The construction ahnuld be such that the drain can ; be (M- .-crl end closed at pleasure. By ■ • ; 'ivinTnally the foul,air can ■: ■»..»■ dir.fMoff. It-is, however, believed 1 ■ thot .{.h'* ii.'i tier plan will be to abandon the cellar altogether. A house of proper size can be constructed' with a double floor and double wall* from 8 tp feet apart. Fill between the walls with sawdust or fine earth. Double doors should, be constructed, one in either end, say, 6x2% feat. The Insjer door may be constructed' to slide. Houses constructed as above gave entire satisfaction and wore free from the deleterious effects of carbonic acid gas.—Bryan Tyson, in Farm and'Home,