Current Literature. 291 



of the state is 296,791,900 board feet, nearly two hundred miUion 

 feet of which is actually purchased in the form of lumber, the 

 balance being obtained in the form of logs and cordwood. The 

 purchase of this raw material represents an expenditure of about 

 four and three-fourths million dollars. Of the 296 million feet 

 annually consumed less than one per cent, is obtained outside of 

 the state." 



"This clearly shows how well Oregon is equipped to meet her 

 wood demands, and that although her hardwoods are somewhat 

 inferior and scattering, they are highly usable, and will increase 

 in value as the Eastern supply is exhausted. It might be well to 

 mention here that the state of Maryland is forced to bring in 80 

 per cent of the lumber used by her wood-using industries ; Massa- 

 chusetts, 70 per cent, and Wisconsin, 50 per cent." 



S. J. R. 



The Relative Durability of Post Timbers. By J. J. Crumley, 

 Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station, Wooster, Ohio. 1910.. 

 Pp. 36. 



This report is based upon investigations of 292 fences contain- 

 ing 30,160 posts. These fences were situated in Ohio for the 

 most part ; also Indiana, Illinois, Kansas and Texas. The species 

 of timber studied were (arranged in order of durability as found) 

 Osage orange, black locust, red cedar, mulberry, white cedar, 

 catalpa, chestnut and oak (sp?). The investigator found that 

 durability apparently was not affected by seasoning, i. e. posts set 

 green seem to have lasted fully as long as those partially or 

 thoroughly seasoned. It made no difference whether the upper 

 or lower end of the post as it grew in the tree is put in the ground, 

 except that the sounder end should be put down. If both ends 

 are equally sound the larger should go down, since a large post 

 usually lasts longer than a small one of the same wood. Timber 

 grown rapidly did not appear as durable as slowly grown timber 

 of the same kind. This was observed especially in red cedar, 

 catalpa, and locust. It has usually been considered that rate of 

 growth does not oflFset durability. The wood near the center of 

 the tree did not prove as durable as that just beneath the sapwood. 

 The investigator believes this to be due to the greater age of the 

 center wood, to the presence of numerous small knots, and to in- 

 19 



