CHAPTER XX 



THE USE OF PERISHABLE WOODS FOR FENCE POSTS 

 BY TREATING WITH CREOSOTE 



IN many regions the question of a future supply of fence 

 posts is becoming a serious one. Trees yielding durable woods 

 have been plentiful in the past, but the time has come when 

 many of them are too scarce and too high in price to be 

 utilized generally by farmers. White oak, formerly one of 

 the chief post woods, is becoming too valuable for other pur- 

 poses to be utilized for fence posts. The supply of chestnut 

 is sure to be greatly depleted by the chestnut blight, if not en- 

 tirely wiped out. Locust for fence posts is now hard to obtain 

 and in some sections the price is almost prohibitive. Cedar has 

 long since ceased to be a fence post material except locally. 

 Its use for making pencils and for boxes and chests has raised 

 the value of the wood too high for general use. Walnut, 

 one of the most durable of woods, has become very scarce. 



Because of this condition substitutes for the wooden posts 

 are being sought. Many posts of iron and concrete are being 

 made and used, but their cost is usually high. Concrete posts 

 can be made for about 25 cents each. But even at that price 

 they will not come into general use. A fence post to be 

 practical must be cheap. In foreign countries where wood is 

 too valuable and scarce to be utilized for fence posts, farmers 

 have learned for the most part to do without fences. Rota- 

 tions are so worked out that the pasture lot is not considered. 

 Permanent pastures are established and the cattle confined to 

 them. It is doubtful if the American farmer will soon get 

 along without fences. 



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