METHODS OF PREVENTING THE DECAY. 29 



treatment with Beaumont oil ^vas hardly satisfactory, 4 out of 42 

 lohlolly tics having s})orop]iores of Lenzites sepiaria. A detailed 

 statement of these results is given hy Yon Schrenk (1004), The 

 experiment shows that creosote, zinc tamiin, zinc creosote, and zinc 

 chlorid are ellicient in the order named. The Barschall process, in 

 which a mixture of cop])er, iron, and aluminum compoumls is used, 

 was not satisfactory. The Beamnont oil and spirittine were hardly 

 satisfactory, but were applied in open vats without pressure. 



In 1909 further examination of these ties was made (Faulkner, 

 1910; Winslow, 1910). No detailed statement is given as to the 

 fungi wliich caused decay, so only the general results are of signifi- 

 cance in the present paper; but the result with the best treatments, 

 iVllardyce, zinc chlorid, and Wellliouse, are of interest. It was found 

 that a large number of the hemlock and tamarack ties which were 

 treated by these methods are still in service. The following table 

 gives the results : 



Percentage of treated ties in service after 7\ years. 



The untreated ties of hemlock averaged H 3"ears of service, while 

 the tamarack averaged 2J years. This increase in service, due to 

 treatment by the methods stated, based upon the service of untreated 

 ties, was 430 per cent for loblolly ties, 370 per cent for hemlock, 280 

 per cent for tamarack, and 210 per cent for longleaf pine. 



Besides the above methods of handling the timber itself, the col- 

 lection and burning of decayed timber is of importance in reducmg 

 the attacks of this fungus. The custom of promi)tly burning the 

 rotten ties by the American railroads is based on good judgment, and 

 must have an appreciable clVcct upon the prevalence of wood-rotting 

 fungi upon the ties in their tracks. 



SUMMARY. 



Pi'actically three-fourths of the timber production of the entire 

 country is furnished by the coniferous species of trees. The wood- 

 rotting fungi arc important factors in determining the length of service 

 of this immense quantity of timber, Lenzites sepiaria being one of the 

 most important of the fungi wliich attack coniferous species of wood. 

 With several other species it destroj's a large proportion of the conif- 

 erous railroad ties and telegraph and telephone poles which are in 



214 



