USE OF PERISHABLE WOODS FOR FENCE POSTS 205 



in the wood before being leached out by the rain. The greater 

 the absorption, however, the greater the cost. To a farmer 

 using his own time the cost of the creosote is the only real 

 expense connected with the treatment. Pitch pine posts of the 

 same size will absorb from I to 8 pounds of creosote, depend- 

 ing on the length of treatment, making the cost of creosote 

 alone from about 2. cents to 16 cents. The quantity of creosote 

 absorbed can be controlled by varying the length of time the 

 posts are heated in hot creosote and cooled in cold creosote. 

 A penetration of a half inch is sufficient for most kinds of 

 posts. What is desired is a shell of creosoted wood about the 

 posts that will remain for years and prevent the entrance of 

 fungi. The heaviest treatment will, of course, give the best 

 results. 



Willow, soft maple, cottonwood and box-elder, common 

 woods that last but 3 or 4 years in the ground or less untreated, 

 will last 20 to 25 years or longer when treated at a cost of about 

 10 cents for both top and butt treatment. They should be 

 heated for about 5 hours in hot creosote and cooled from 5 

 to 10 hours, with the exception of cottonwood which absorbs 

 the treatment readily, and should be given a short treatment. 

 It should be heated not more than 2 hours. Ash and red oak 

 will last about 6 to 7 years in the ground untreated, and when 

 given a treatment by heating for 6 or 7 hours in hot creosote 

 and cooling for 10 to 12 hours, they should last 25 years or 

 more. 



ADVANTAGES OF TREATING FENCE POSTS WITH CREOSOTE 



1. It permits the use of material the farmer has in his 

 own woodlot that is not used at present because of the perish- 

 able nature of the wood. 



2. By a preservative treatment the life of posts can be 

 lengthened many times. Posts that last but 3 or 4 years can 

 be made to last 20 to 25 years, thus saving not only the cost 

 of new posts but the cost of replacing. 



