OF FARM TIMBERS 



THE COST AND THE SAVING. 



Little is gained by attempting to estimate in detail either 

 the cost or the saving from preservative treatment of farm 

 timbers. The actual figures available for different kinds of 

 treatment of given woods under local conditions may be mis- 

 leading rather than helpful. The cost of the timber and labor 

 and creosote varies greatly in different communities. We 

 find, for example, in Bulletin No. 158 of the Agricultural 

 Experiment Station, Ames, Iowa, that the saving from creo- 

 soting soft maple posts is about 2 cents per year, based on 

 the post costing 5 cents, treating with creosote 1^/2 cents, 

 setting 8 cents, and a life of 27 years against 4 years un- 

 treated. Cottonwood posts under the same conditions show 

 a saving of about 3^2 cents per year. These results might 

 not apply in other regions. The cost of treatment alone 

 usually averages from 10 to 20 cents per post, depending on 

 the cost of the creosote. 



In lumber and small dimension timbers the condition is 

 the same, the variation in expense being caused by the 

 method of treatment, the kind of wood, and many other 

 factors. A thorough brush treatment of lumber should not 

 cost over $5 per thousand board feet; while open tank treat- 

 ment, if facilities are available, might run as high as $10 per 

 thousand, or even more. These approximate figures are 

 simply a guide, and will vary within wide limits. 



The best plan is not to figure too closely on detailed 

 estimates of cost, but proceed on the ground that the initial 

 expense is fully justified by the longer service the timber will 

 give. A barrel of good creosote oil at a cost of approximately 

 $15 or $20 is certainly a good investment, and if available, 

 can be used to excellent advantage from time to time. 

 Where a large amount of material is to be treated it is, of 

 course, necessary to purchase the preservative in proportion 

 to the work done. Every farm should have at least a small 

 supply on hand for the odd jobs of repairing and building 

 which continually occur. 



The saving is another point which does not need to be 

 reckoned closely, since it is so certain that satisfactory re- 

 sults will be obtained. From the many cases where pressure 

 creosoted timber has shown no signs of decay for 40 years 

 or more, down to the extra life which a light brush treatment 

 will give, many gradations in results are obtained. There 

 is no question as to the economy of a creosoted cottonwood 



Fifteen 



