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Show Fireproof Trees, Decorations to Avoid Christmas Accidents Salt Lake County residents are advised to fireproof Christmas Christ-mas trees this season so that fires will not interfere with holiday holi-day joys, according to County Agent V. L. Martineau. Trees can be made fire resistant re-sistant through the use of ammonium am-monium sulfate, Mr. Martineau said. When the treatment is properly applied, a tree cannot be made to blaze even when exposed to a large flame. But a tree that has not absorbed enough solution may be fire resistant re-sistant in the sense that it cannot can-not be ignited by a match or an electric spark, and yet may catch fire from a laree flame near it. A. method for fireproofing Christmas trees is described in leaflet No. 193. distributed free upon request by the U. S. Department De-partment of Agriculture. ''Christmas trees are a serious seri-ous fire hazard.' the bulletin says. "The risk is especialy great where a large tree is used at a public gathering place such as a school or church." . "Fresher cut trees do not ignite ig-nite easily because of the mois- tnvo nrocont Vint mnictnro and leave it there until most of the solution is absorbed. For best results, the treatment should be given at a moderate temperature, 55 deg. to C5 dg. F., before the tree is placed in a warm room, because the solution solu-tion is not taken up satisfactorily when the atmosphere is warm and dry. Calcium chloride may be substituted sub-stituted for ammonium sulfate and it should be used in the i same proportions and in the same way. the bulletin says. The bulletin cautions that while the methods given in the leaflet, if followed carefully will reduce the fire hazards of Christmas Christ-mas trees, it should be born in mind that no inexpensive method meth-od is known that will make a I depends upon the amount of solution so-lution taken up by the tree. Tf the greater part of the solution is taken up, the tree should have a high degree of fire resistance. Some stores now have fireproof fire-proof cotton for sale the bulletin bul-letin states. But, if this cannot be obtained, cotton may be made fireproof by the following follow-ing simple method: Prepare a solution by dissolving seven ounces of borax, three ounces of . borac acid, and one and one-half one-half ounce of soap powder in two quarts of hot water. Place the cotton on concrete floor or a surface which will not be injured in-jured by wetting and sprinkle with the solution while it is still warm. Christmas tree completely fireproof. fire-proof. Then when a tree is made fire resistant by the methods meth-ods described in the publication, lighted candles, matches, and other open flames should be kept away from it. I The resistance of a treated tree soon evaporates and the tree becomes be-comes dry. When a tree is dry, it catches fire easily. This is especially true of Christmas trees because they contain substances that are easily ignited. The Christmas tree can be made practically fireproof, however, by replacing the moisture with a fire resistant substance." The bulletin described a method meth-od for making Christmas trees j fire resistant as folows: (1) Weigh the tree and divide the weight in pounds of ammonium sulfate needed, (2) place the ammonium sulfate in a jar or pail and dissolve in water using for each pound of ammonium one and one-half pints of water sulfate. A narrow month container con-tainer is preferable, (3) just before be-fore treating, saw off the stem of the tree about an inch from the top, preferably at an oblique angle, or in a V shape, (4) set the tree in the solution in a cool place, away from direct sunlight |