76 Forestry Quarterly. 



weeds and decayed wood and well exposed to air currents. If 

 possible, the yard should be covered with cinders. The ties 

 should be elevated on creosoted stringers at least 6 inches above 

 ground. The stringers should be laid close to the ends of the 

 ties in order to retard checking. 



"(lo) Ties cut from conifers are less likely to check during 

 seasoning than ties cut from broadleaf trees, and in eonsequence 

 can be piled more openly. 



*'(ii) If ties are seasoning too fast they should be piled closer 

 together; if seasoning too slowly they should be piled more openly. 

 Ties cut in winter can be piled more openly without danger of 

 checking than ties cut in summer. The 8 by 2 form of pile will 

 give general satisfaction; more open forms are the 7 by i and 7 

 by 2. 



"(12) Serious end checking, if not controlled by methods of 

 piling, can be retarded by driving S-shaped irons over the check. 



"(13) The length of time ties should season before treatment 

 will vary primarily with the species of wood, form of pile, and 

 period of the year. In general, ties cut in spring and summer 

 will be seasoned sufficiently for treatment by the end of the fol- 

 lowing autumn ; ties cut in early spring will be seasoned suffi- 

 ciently by the following early autumn ; the seasoning period vary- 

 ing from about five to eight months. The periods necessary to 

 season dense ties like the oaks will generally be from two to three 

 months longer than those just given. 



"(14) A preliminary soaking of ties in water to increase their 

 rate of air seasoning and their absorptive properties is not recom- 

 mended unless it can be done without extra expense. The slight 

 advantages gained are not sufficient to warrant an appreciable 

 expenditure of time or money. 



"(15) When ties are received at the treating plant they should 

 be piled in groups according to the way in which they take treat- 

 ment, those which absorb large quantities of preservative being 

 piled separately from those which are difficult to impregnate. 

 The species which should comprise the various groups are not as 

 yet as well known as is desirable, but the distinction can at least 

 be made between those that behave very differently under treat- 

 ment. Only thoroughly seasoned ties should be treated. It is 

 bad practice to mix seasoned and green or only partially seasoned 



