SIMPLE FOREST CONSERVATION 



213 



A PILE OF PULPWOOD IN MAINE 



Our own pulpwood supply is diminishing rapidly and we now import one-third of what we 

 use from Canada a deplorable state of affairs, calling for vigorous corrective measures. 



held by the paint. The result 

 is that decay goes on faster 

 than it would if the shingle 

 were bare. A thin oil stain 

 has the same effect, but to a 

 lesser extent. Some form of 

 creosote, linseed oil or zinc 

 chloride dip will make a good 

 preservative. When siding 

 shingles have been dipped, a 

 brush coat occasionally in 

 later years, will keep the 

 building looking fresh, and 

 will benefit the roof, for the 

 joints were covered in the be- 

 ginning. I believe that a roof 

 should never be brush-stained, 

 and that dipping roof shingles 

 is usually doubtful economy 

 unless a very good grade of 

 dip is used. Creosote is per- 

 haps the best preservative. 

 Of course the appearance of 

 a house roof is almost as im- 

 portant as its durability, and 

 very artistic effects mav be 

 obtained with stained 

 shingles. 



In dipping shingles, we will 

 say 18-inch shingles, about 12 

 inches of the butt should be 



covered. About twice the 

 length that a shingle is to be 

 laid to the weather is about 

 the right depth to dip. With 

 the right arrangement- of tub 

 and a draining trough to put 

 the shingles in after staining, 

 dipping is a fairly rapid pro- 

 cess, but expensive, for the 

 shingles will soak up an as- 

 tonishing amount of stam. 



Many wood shingle substi- 

 tutes are in use with varying 

 success. Slate is everlasting, 

 but occasionally splits from 

 frost in our severe changes of 

 climate. Metal, unless well 

 tinned or galvanized, may 

 rust. Besides, both metal and 

 slate are very hot in summer 

 and cold in winter. The va- 

 rious prepared roofings, fre- 

 quently called fireproof, are 

 good, bad and indifferent. 

 The consumer generally gets 

 about what he pays for. Some 

 prepared material dries out 

 and becomes highly inflam- 



DENSE YOUNG GROWTH OF SPRUCE ON AN OLD PASTURE LAND 



This is the only thing which will turn back the tide of the paper famine regrowth of the 

 species valuable for its manufacture a good use for some of our thousands of "idle acres." 



