SEASONING AND IMPREGNATION OF TIMBER 285 



examined at one time after being in use for twenty-five 

 years, all were found to be sound with the exception of 

 three ; one of these was found decayed at ground line which 

 is the place they generally go first and the two others at 

 arm slots. 1 



Sir W. H. Preece, K.C.B., Past Pres. Inst. C.E., and for 

 many years Chief Engineer of the Government Telegraph 

 Department for Great Britain, has stated that as a result 

 of thirty years' experience he has " never seen a properly 

 creosoted telegraph pole show the slightest sign of decay," 

 and he mentions that a line of creosoted telegraph poles 

 318 in number between Fareham and Portsmouth was 

 erected in 1848, and when taken down in 1883 were as 

 sound as when first erected ; with all the other systems of 

 preservation telegraph poles had failed in much less time.'' 2 



Burnettized poles have generally a life of only seven 

 to ten years, and are very unreliable, some decaying after 

 three or four years. 



The objections to creosoting are that it can only be used 

 for outdoor work, the filthy condition the workmen get 

 into when working with it, the long time one has to wait 

 while the timber is drying, and, the greatest objection and 

 the main one in some situations, its very inflammable nature. 

 It is not advisable or necessary to creosote oak or hardwood 

 of that character, except perhaps for railway sleepers. 



Haskynizing was a process for preserving timber by 

 means of hot air, whereby it was said that its natural 

 properties were solidified and all fungus life destroyed, and 

 which was much lauded some years back. The author had 

 a good deal of experience with it and found that in the 



1 Jour, of Proc. Inst. Elec. Eng., Vol. XXXIX. 



2 Min. of Proc. Inst. O.E., Vol. LXXVIII. 



