Fire Retardant for Yule Trees
Every year many homes, lives and dreams are destroyed
as a result of Yule trees catching on fire. Traditionally, we take
a dead tree (which is highly flammable when dry), set it in our
homes and wrap it with electric wires. This seems like a sure invitation
for a fire! Following the directions below carefully should make
your Yule tree fireproof.
Ingredients:
- Two cups of Karo syrup
- Two ounces of liquid chlorine bleach
- Two pinches of Epsom salt
- One-half teaspoon of Borax
- One teaspoon of chelated iron
- Hot water
The Karo syrup, Borax and liquid chlorine bleach may be purchased
from your supermarket. The Epsom salt can be purchased from the
drug store and the chelated iron (pronounced key-lated) can be purchased
from a garden shop or plant store.
Directions:
Mix your fireproofing ingredients listed above.
- Fill a two-gallon bucket with hot water to within
one inch of the top and add the ingredients. Stir thoroughly,
dissolving ingredients. Put to side.
- With a saw, take your recently-purchased Yule
tree and make a fresh cut at the base on the tree trunk. Cut an
inch off the base of the tree. Try to make a level cut.
- Immediately stand the trunk of the tree in the
solution and leave for 24 hours.
- Keep the remaining solution. Place your tree
in a tree stand that contains a well where liquids can be poured.
- When the tree is in its final resting place,
use a plastic cup to pour solution from the bucket into the tree
well. Fill the well.
- Every day without exception, the well of the
tree stand must be "topped up" with the solution from
the two-gallon bucket.
If you're curious as to how well this works, after Yule when you
remove your tree, snap off a branch and try to set it on fire, OUTDOORS.
How does this work?
- Karo syrup provides the sugar necessary to allow
the base of the tree to take up water.
- Boron in the Borax allows the tree to move the
water and sugar out to every branch and needle in your tree.
- Magnesium compounds in the Epsom salt and iron
from the chelated iron provide essential components for the production
of chlorophyll which will keep the tree green.
- Bleach prevents mold from forming in your solution.
Beneficial side effects of this procedure are that the needles will
not drop and you will notice an increase in natural pine fragrance.
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