OF FARM TIMBERS 



which indicate a preservative value, although it is still in an 

 experimental stage as regards its application to farm 

 timbers. 



Paint, Linseed Oil and White Wash can not be expected 

 to give good results as preservatives, as they do not pene- 

 trate the wood and do not prevent decay. Good paint in 

 itself, by keeping out air and moisture, gives excellent pro- 

 tection to wood surfaces, and farm buildings should be kept 

 well painted, but paint is not a wood preservative in the 

 sense the subject is considered here. If wood is kept satu- 

 rated with linseed oil, decay may be retarded by keeping out 

 the water, but this would be difficult as well as too expensive. 

 White wash has no preservative value whatever. 



Mineral Salts, especially zinc chloride, have been ex- 

 tensively and successfully used as wood preservatives, but 

 as far as known are not recommended for the small con- 

 sumer, or on farm timbers. Most of them are not effective 

 when applied superficially. 



Proprietory or Patented Preservatives, consisting of 

 chemical solutions or mixtures of various kinds, have been 

 quite extensively sold. Some of them, particularly those 

 containing creosote, have high value as preservatives. 

 Others are practically worthless, despite extravagant claims. 

 The high cost is the worst drawback to the patented pre- 

 servatives of merit. They are rarely superior to good creo- 

 sote, and often not as good, and their cost is often out of 

 proportion to their relative value. 



A Word of Warning may prevent a consumer who buys 

 preservatives in retail quantities from being confused or 

 misled by the many preparations offered. There have not 

 been any new preservatives of established value discovered 

 nor developed for many years, hence anything which is of- 

 fered under a new trade name is either a new material of 

 unproven value, or a combination of well known materials. 

 Coal tar creosote and zinc chloride are the standard pre- 

 servatives used in railroad and commercial plants, and the 

 men in charge of these operations will be the first to dis- 

 cover and use something which has greater value. Since 

 the effectiveness of zinc chloride depends on thorough im- 

 pregnation of the wood, and as the only feasible method for 

 the small user is open tank or brush treatment which gives 

 superficial penetration, the obviously safe and reasonable 

 course for the man who buys preservatives by the barrel for 



Seven 



