CHAPTER XI 



THE DURABILITY AND PRESERVATION OF 

 WOODS 



THE term durability as applied to wood usually refers 

 to the natural resistance of the wood to rot, and it will be 

 so considered here. 



This quality of durability is of great importance, both 

 to the farmer who already has an established woodlot or to 

 the one who is about to do some planting. The uses to 

 which a larger part of the wood used on the farm is put 

 demand durability in contact with the soil and the weather, 

 for on this durability depends very largely the cost of 

 maintaining the structure. Fence posts, gate posts, poles, 

 stakes, sills, and the like, all require durability in contact 

 with the soil, while all the work on the exterior of the home 

 and out-buildings must resist the ravages of the weather. 



In addition to these uses for durable wood on the farm 

 itself, there is frequently a good market for ties and poles. 

 For these pnrposes the more durable woods bring very 

 much better prices, especially white oak for ties and white 

 cedar or chestnut for poles. This market is profitable 

 enough to demand careful consideration in the manage- 

 ment of the woodlot. 



Therefore, it is to the farmer's interest to pay particular 

 attention to the durability of the species that he is growing 



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