PETROLEUM ON THE FARM.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 460, 5 April 1890, Page 2

PETROLEUM ON THE FARM.

Most writers on poultry and agricultural matters ml voeate the free use of kerosene oil or petroleum upon the roosts, and about other parts of the poultry-house, for the extermination or prevention of lice. It is an excellent plan to buy a quantity of it at a time, so as to have it ready at all times for other useful purposes. It can he obtained in barrels and half barrels at a very low price per gallon, and may be placed in some unused corner about the buildings. With a faucet in the end and an air-hole above the oil, it will inn f-.eely. It will be found very convenient, not only for the poultry-. house and the summer chicken-coops, but for other purposes. A little applied to a rusty bolt, or cl ; nging nut, or a rusty sciew, wiil start them, or a drop will take the music out of a creaking hinge. Applied to tools, it prevents rust, and helps to remove that already gathered. For paint to be used about farm buildings and fences, it is an improvement to mix a little with the usual linseed oil. It not only cheapens it, but makes it spread more freely and strike in more thoroughly, as it is very penetrating and acts as a preservative to all wooden surfaces to which it is applied. There is nothing better to soften a stiffened piece of leather, and cotton cloths for hot-beds or awnings can be made nearly water-; proof by giving it a coat of the oil occasionally. The crude petroleum is better than refined for all these purposes, as it is more penetrating, and consequently more lasting, as well as much cheaper. When a barrel is once laid in, one will wonder how begot along without it, he will find so many ways to make use of it. For one who has to use tar for any purj oie like the tarring of roofs, and gets it on tha hands, nothing wiU start it like the petroleum.—American Agriculturist.