246 The Farm Woodlot 



circulation of air without exposure to the heavy winds. 

 From three months to a year and a half according to the 

 species and thickness of the pieces is necessary for thorough 

 seasoning. Some valuable cabinet woods require ten or 

 twelve years to season thoroughly. It is well to paint the 

 ends of the lumber piles to prevent too rapid drying and 

 consequent checking. 



A cheap and very effective, although rather slow method 

 of seasoning logs is to soak them in a pond. This leaches 

 out the sap from the cells and causes the timbers to dry 

 very rapidly when taken from the water. It also prevents 

 checking to a considerable degree. Many species are im- 

 proved greatly by this soaking process and to many it is 

 a necessity. Besides seasoning "against fungi, this also 

 destroys the larvae of boring insects that may be in the 

 sap wood. 



Wood should never be painted until it is thoroughly 

 seasoned. The moisture confined in the interior of the 

 wood by a coat of paint is sufficient to support the growth 

 of the dry-rot fungus. Thus we often find a post com- 

 pletely rotten through the center though it is painted and 

 placed in a dry situation. For this same reason sills or 

 joists should never be built solidly into a wall so that the 

 air cannot circulate freely around them. Otherwise mois- 

 ture collects and dry rot sets in. 



THE COATING OF TIMBERS 



However, when the wood has once been properly sea- 

 soned, a coating of some substance which will keep the 

 wood from reabsorbing moisture will greatly increase its 

 durability, for it is the constant soaking and drying 



