TENTS. L9 
A skirt of 6J-ounce drill is of considerable advantage in reducing 
the weight, especially in the case of the larger sizes of tents. This 
drill is usually about 28 inches wide, and when a skirt is to be used 
allowance is made for one or two widths in constructing the diagram 
and in figuring for the cutting of the 8-ounce duck. Sometimes the 
skirt is run all around the margin, hut it is preferable to have the full- 
Length strips (section B) extended the entire length of the tent and 
the drill sewed to the three sides of seel ion A and of sect ion C. When 
the skirl extends all the way around, when shifting the tent by means 
of poles or uprights, the rings should always be located on the duck 
inside of the skirt, to avoid too greal stress upon the lighter material. 
Painting, oiling, mildew-proofing, and <■<!/■< of tents. Various meth- 
ods have been used to preserve and to increase 1 the tightness of fumi- 
gating tents. Linseed oil was one of the, first materials tested for 
increasing the tightness of the cloth:' hut experience has shown this 
to he undesirable when used either by itself or in combinations, on 
account of the deterioration in the strength of the cloth and the lia- 
bility to bum or rot when long loft folded. Painting the cloth with 
black paint, with an inferior grade of glue, called "size/' and with a 
mucilaginous juice of the prickly pear cactus (Opuntia sp.) are three 
methods mentioned by Mr. D. W. Coquillett in a report dated in 
October, 1890, as in use in California. In recent years these three 
methods have all been used more or less, the last the most extensively 
of the three. At present the most usual practice of California fumi- 
gators is to use untreated tents or tents proofed against mildew by 
dipping and boiling in a solution of tannin. This last treatment is not 
considered of any value in rendering the tent tighter except by ordi- 
nary shrinkage, which would be accomplished as well in due course 
after using one or two nights, particularly in Florida, where heavy 
dews are usual. The method of treatment with the tannin solution, 
a- reported by a committee on fumigation appointed by the Claremont 
(California) Horticultural Club and published in various horticultural 
and agricultural papers, is as follows: 
To preveni ruination by mildew when the tents are damp, they musl lie dipped. 
This is done in a large tank, made either of galvanized or boiler iron. These Bhould 
lie :; by K) feet and 2! feel deep. The boiler should be^ounded. This must be on 
a good arch, so as to permit a fire under it. The smoke pipe <>r chimney of the arch 
must he high, to secure a draft. A derrick made by three poles above the tank, sup- 
plied with pulleys and a rope, makes dipping easy and permits raising of the icni and 
dripping after dipping is completed. It also aids in keeping the tent from i he bottom 
of the tank and burning, which must he avoided. The lank is Idled to near the top 
with water and made very dark by adding a half barrel of <>ak extract or tannin. This 
is well stirred. The tannin should not be added until the water is boiling. The tent 
is lowered into the tank of boiling water and extract and hoi led for half an hour. It is 
" Report of Commissioner of Agriculture, L887, Report on the Gas Treatment for 
& ale [nsects, by I>. W. Coquillett, p. L26. 
