398 HORTICULTURE, FORESTRY, FLORICULTURE 



treatment than in a cooler northern climate or on the arid plains. 

 (F. S. B. 78.) 



Prolonging the Life of Posts. The usual methods of prolong- 

 ing the life of fence posts are considered in the order of their effici- 

 ency, beginning with the cheapest and least effective. One point 

 deserves special emphasis, namely, that in spite of the high first cost, 

 the best treatment is the most economical in the long run. The 

 study upon which this publication is based indicates that impreg- 

 nation with creosote is decidedly the best preservative method. The 

 value of seasoning has already been explained. It is likewise im- 

 portant to remove the bark, so that the outer layers of the wood 

 may dry more thoroughly. 



A preservative method, akin to seasoning, consists in piling 

 stones or similar material around the base of the post. This checks 

 the growth of weeds and permits the air to circulate more freely 

 around the post. It is doubtful, however, whether the saving justi- 

 fies the cost. Good results have been obtained by charring the post 

 over an open fire. The wood must first be thoroughly seasoned, 

 and care must be taken not to let the wood "check" or split from the 

 heat. Too deep charring, which will weaken the post, must obviously 

 be avoided. In some cases it is unnecessary to char the entire 

 post, but the burning should always extend 1 foot above and 1 

 foot below the ground line. It is often a good plan to char the 

 very top of the post. Treatment with the brush should be resorted 

 to only when more efficacious methods are impracticable. If brush 

 treatments are to be effective, the posts must have been thoroughly 

 seasoned, or the surface coating will afterwards be broken by the 

 opening of seasoning checks through which moisture will enter the 

 wood. At best surface coatings are not very durable. Some of the 

 substances which may be applied with a brush are whitewash, 

 petroleum-tar creosote, coal-tar creosote, and various patented 

 products of coal tar and petroleum tar. Paint and whitewash are 

 inferior to antiseptic preservatives; products of coal tar (creosote, 

 etc.) are the best. These are best applied hot, in two or more coats. 

 A barrel (50 gallons) of creosote should be sufficient to paint at 

 least 300 posts with three coats for the butts and two for the tops. 

 One defect of brush treatment is that the preservative does not enter 

 readily the cracks and checks. This defect may be overcome by 

 dipping the posts in the preservative. Another advantage of dip- 

 ping, as compared with painting, is a saying in labor. On the other 

 nand, dipping requires a larger quantity of preservative, and, in 

 addition to the amount consumed, there must be enough surplus 

 to keep the barrel or tank filled to the proper depth. This usually 

 forbids the use of any expensive preservative for dipping. Petro- 

 leum tar, coal tar, and the creosotes, however, may often be advan- 

 tageously employed. Posts have been treated by dipping the butt 

 in cement. This is hardly satisfactory, owing to the ease with 

 which the protective covering may be broken; moisture is absorbed 

 after treatment and causes the wood to expand and crack the 

 cement. 



