516 COMMERCIAL POULTRY RAISING 



boards, in a thorough manner; but if sprayed on the dusty sides 

 of a building, it is very apt to run off the dust like water from an 

 oiled surface. 



Spraying is much easier and quicker than applying the white- 

 wash with a brush, and if the above cleaning precautions are 

 taken, it is equally as effectual. But if one insists on following 

 the careless method, by all means use a brush, and put some car- 

 bolic acid in the wash — for in so doing the woodwork is at least 

 partially scrubbed with the solution. 



Formulas. — ^The following are formulas for whitewash that 

 will not rub off : Slake a half-bushel of good strong lime in boil- 

 ing water, using just enough water to cover the lime and keep it 

 from burning. When the slaking process is completed, add a 

 little more water, and then strain the solution to remove any 

 sediment of sand or foreign substance. Dissolve a peck of salt in 

 warm water and add this to the lime solution ; mix it thoroughly 

 and allow it to stand for a couple of days. When ready for use, 

 thin to the proper consistency and apply it hot. 



Mixing Wash with Skimmed Milk. — Another well-known 

 recipe: Slake the lime as before, and then add two pounds of 

 sulphate of zinc and one pound of salt dissolved in water. The 

 addition of a half-pound of whiting will improve the wash for 

 outside use, and if skimmed milk is used instead of water, the 

 results will compare favorably with oil paint. 



Disinfectant. — The following is an inexpensive and efficient 

 poultry house disinfectant for spraying purposes, and one that 

 is very simple to make at home: Dissolve a pound of strong, 

 hard soap or soap powder in a gallon of boiling water; imme- 

 diately this is removed from the fire add a gallon of kerosene 

 and one pint of crude carbolic acid, and churn and agitate the 

 solution until the ingredients are thoroughly mixed. If the oil 

 and water separate, it is because the soap was not sufficiently 

 caustic. It is important that crude carbolic acid be used and 

 not the refined product, for the crude acid — a dark brown, 

 dirty-looking liquid— contains tar oil, which is to be desired. 

 Add ten gallons of water to the above to make a stock solution, 



