FORESTRY. 243 



parative summary is given of the statistics of the lumber industry as returned 

 at the censuses of 1850 to 1905, inchisive. with the percentages of increase for 

 each census period. Wliile tlie number of establishments engaged in tiie hnnlxT 

 industry was 18.700 for 1850 and 19.127 at the census of 1005, the caiiital 

 invested in the industry during the same ])eriod increased from $41,444.:'.(')4 to 

 $517,224,128, a gain of 1,148 per cent, and the value of products multiiillcd 

 almost t(>iifold. from .i;0O.4i:il87 to ,$580,022.r,0(). 



Sawmill statistics (f. .S'. Dcpt. Afir.. Forcxt Hrrr. Circ. ](i7. p/i. 2). — This 

 circular consists of a compilation of reports received from over 10,000 sawmills 

 in the United States with regard to the oi>erations of 1005. An accompanying 

 table shows the proi)ortions of lumber kiln-dried and surfaced, the amount of 

 slab-wood sold, and the proportion of logs cut on lands belonging to the sawmill 

 operators. 



Altogether l,(t42 mills reported the use of dry kilns. Kiln-dr.ying appears to 

 be more prevalent in the South and is practiced to a less extent in the Kocky 

 Mountain and I'acific coast States. A much larger proportion of the cut is said 

 to be surfaced at the mills than is kiln-dried. More than 3,900 mills are reported 

 as surfacing a portion of their cut, and for the country as a whole, at least 35 

 per cent is surfaced before it is shipped. Some 4.000 mills reported sales of 

 slab wood totaling 3,503,287 cords. The percentage of logs cut on lands owned 

 by sawmill operators ranges from 97.4 in California to 34.5 in Washington. 



Seasoning of telephone and telegraph poles, H. Grinnell (U. S. Dept. A;i>'., 

 Forent Serv. Circ. 103, pp. 16). — From previous investigations with regard to the 

 seasoning of railroad ties (E. S. R., 15, p. 40) it was determined that seasoned 

 timber will outlast unseasoned when both are in contact with the ground, and 

 that dr.v wood is inore receptive of preservative fluids than green wood. In order 

 to determine the rate of seasoning for poles, experiments were conducted b.v the 

 Forest Service in conjunction with the American Telephone and Telegraph Com- 

 I>any. in which a total of 2.200 chestnut and cedar poles were tested. 



This circular contains a description of the experiments, "together with the 

 results secured. Considerable tabular data are given with regard to the rate 

 at which seasoning progresses in telephone poles, the effect of the time of year 

 when tind^er is cut on its seasoning and specific gravlt.v, and the amount of 

 shrinkage during air-seasoning. From the results secured winter-cut wood ap- 

 pears to season more regularly than that cut at other seasons, although it does 

 not for many months at least reach as low weight as spring-cut wood seasoned 

 equally as long. With timber of approximately the same age and growth that 

 cut in winter will have the greatest specific gravity and that cut in autumn the 

 least. Shrinkage of round timbers in air-seasoning is so slight as to be disre- 

 garded. When poles are carefull.y cut checking during air-seasoning is com- 

 parativel.v slight. Serious checking ma.v result, howevei", if the poles are split 

 or shaken in felling. Whereas from the standpoint of seasoning si)ring and 

 winter are the best times for cutting, winter cutting appears preferable when 

 custom, availai)ility of labor, and susceptibility to decay are taken into con- 

 sideration. 



Brush and tank pole treatments, C. G. Crawford (U. .S'. nejyt. Agr., Forest 

 Serv. Circ. lO.'i, pp. 2.'f, fiys. 3). — This circular describes the experimental treat- 

 ments to determine the effect of various preservatives in delaying the decay of 

 the seasoned jmles tested in the experiments noted in the preceding circular. 



In the work hei'e described the l)rush and open-tank methods were \ised and 

 data are being secured on the relative increase of life of treated over xuitreated 

 timber, the value of different preservatives, and the effect ui)on the durability 

 of poles of air-seasoning and of soaking in water with subseyuent air-season- 

 ing. Although the test must be carried over a period of several years, informa- 



