48 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



beech. In the case of the spnuv, se|»arate spts of tables are given for the hill 

 lands aud mountain areas since the various relations for this species differ 

 • onsiderably in the two i-e.t;ions. Only one set of tables is given for the beach, 

 whidi species shows i)ractically the same development in botli regions. Part 4 

 discusses the principal results derived from the statistics, together with the 

 application of the yield table. 



In an appendix the separate experimental stands are classified relative to the 

 diameter and yield i)er hectare of stems at the time of the first felling and 

 according to the quality of the locality. A map is given showing the location 

 of the various experimental areas, as well as a catalogue of the yield tables for 

 various species of trees published since ]S72, and of all works published since 

 18>S1 dealing with the arrangement, testing, results, and investigations in con- 

 nection with yield tables. 



Progress in chestnut pole preservation, H. F. Weiss {U. S. Dept. Agr., 

 Forest fe'c/r. Circ. J.'fl, pp. J-'t, pg-s. „^).— This circular discusses a number of 

 points relative to pole preservation not brought out in the former publications 

 of the Forest Service on similar subjects (B. S. R., 19, pp. 243, 052), and is 

 based largely upon the results of a series of experiments conducted at Parkton, 

 Md., from August, 1005, to June, 1J,»07, in cooperation with the American Tele- 

 phone and Telegraph Company. 



A comparison of poles cut from sprouts and seed trees showed practically no 

 difference in the taper, but the sprout-grown poles are stronger and hence safer 

 under strain. Furthermore, they reciuire a shorter rotation, thus giving quicker 

 and larger returns on the investment. 



The poles were preserved by the brush and open-tank treatments. Under the 

 brush treatment the penetration of carbolineum and creosote was about equal 

 and averaged about one-eighth of an inch. Creosote alone was used in the 

 (»pen-tank treatment, and special studies were made of the effects of long soak- 

 ing in hot oil and of a rapid change from hot to cold oil, and as to whether 

 poles soaked in water and then seasoned take better treatment. The conclu- 

 sion reached is that the sapwood of chestnut, w^hich is a thin layer, should be 

 comi)letely saturated with the preservative. This can be accomplislied by heat- 

 ing the poles in oil for 6 hours and leaving them in the cooling oil over night, 

 or by heating them in hot oil for 4 hours and plunging them into cold oil for 2 

 hours. Soaking poles in water preparatory to preservative treatment is not 

 recommended, since no better absorption or penetration of the oil is obtained 

 thereby. Effectiveness of treatment is independent of the season of cutting, but 

 depends directly upon the moisture content and the width of the sapwood. 

 Chestnut poles cut during the period of maximum rate of diameter growth and 

 thoroughly seasoned admit of best results in preser\ative treatment. Poles cut 

 in spring and summer reach such a condition more quickly than those cut iu 

 autumn and winter. 



A table is given showing the length of seasoning period desirable previous to 

 preserving for poles cut at different times of the year. Defects such as cup 

 shakes, frost cracks, or splits from careless cutting may cause serious damage, 

 especially in spring-cut and summer-cut poles. It is advised that such poles be 

 imme<liately treated with S-irons tf) prevent them from splitting. 



Experiments with railway cross-ties, H. B. Eastman ( U. S. Dept, Agr., 

 Forest Serv. Circ. l.'fG, pp. 22, flg. 1, dgnifi. 2). — An account is given of an inves- 

 tigation conducted in cooperation with the Northern Pacific Railroad to deter- 

 mine the best and most economical methods of handling tie timbers accessible 

 to that road when manufactured into cross-ties. The timbers used in the 

 experiments were Douglas fir, western hemlock, western tamarack, and giant 

 arborvitie, aud the work was conducted along 'd lines, as follows: Tests to 



