CHAPTER XI 



SEASONING AND IMPREGNATION OF TIMBER 



Objects and Advantages of Seasoning Open Air Seasoning Kiln Dry- 

 ing Charring Artificial Methods of Preserving Buriiettixing 

 or Zinc Chloride Process Boucherie's Process Kyanizing 

 Powellized Wood Creosoting Long Life of Creosoted Timber 

 Haskyni/ing Cost of Different Processes Fireproof Timber. 



Open air Seasoning. The object of seasoning timber is to 

 extract as much moisture as possible from it, because, as 

 we have seen, moisture is an essential factor in producing 

 decay, and the reason why seasoned timber is not so liable 

 to decay as unseasoned timber is that the moisture has 

 been reduced below the limit required for the production 

 and growth of fungus life. But it should also be borne in 

 mind that fairly-dried timber is much stronger than green 

 timber all tests show this and detailed reference is made 

 to this point in another place, so that it is sufficient to 

 say here that the strength of well-dried wood is increased 

 considerably above that of the same timber when " green " ; 

 so that it pays to season timber both from point of strength 

 and longevity. 



Good pitch pine or Baltic timber, to be used in a quay or 

 structure exposed to the atmosphere and having plenty of 

 fresh-^ air, need not be seasoned before use ; the timber 

 seasons in the work, it is usually of larger scantling than 

 that used for interior work, and it would be no use drying 

 timber which was afterwards to be exposed to the elements ; 

 but for timber inside a dwelling-house, particularly for 



