1847. 



GENESEE FARMER, 



89^ 



Fence Posfc*. 



Mr. EorTO" : — I observe one of your corres- 

 pondents has made some inquiries on the subject 

 o( preserving fence posts from rot and decay. — 

 ft is a very important subject, and f am pleased 

 that it is started, as it may develope some valua- 

 ble information, experiments and results. Under 

 these considerations 1 will contribute my mite, with 

 my experience, and 5>uch information as I possess. 



In 1839 I set about sixty rods of high picket 

 fence on the roud in front of my orchard ; the 

 posts were black ash, first and second cuts from 

 trees 8 to 10 inches in diameter. When com- 

 pleted, one half of the posts were bored with an 

 inch and half auger, in a diagonal line, from 3 

 inches above the earth to 3 inches below, and 

 filled with fine salt and nicely plugged. The 

 next spring, on examination, the salt was found 

 missing and they were refilled, and not again 

 looked after. In about 6 years some of the 

 smaller ones began to fail and so on, to this win- 

 ter, when about G rods blew down, in one piece 

 of the salted posts, every one completely decay- 

 ed and rotten. There was no other difference 

 in the failure of the posts, except the salted ones 

 seemed to fail first, as they were weakened by 

 the borings. 



At the same time, to test the experiment in 

 the shortest period possible, I chose two posts 

 from the most fragile wood I could select, whicli 

 was green bass-wood or Linden, cut in June, 

 the bark peeled off, and set as horse posts in 

 front of my yard. One was salted and one left 

 without. The next July, a year or more after, 

 a friend called upon me in a sulkey and fastened 

 his horse to one of the posts. After sitting in 

 the house a few minutes, a boy reported that the 

 horse and sulkey was going off. On examina- 

 tion it was found to be the salted post, completely 

 rotten, and the horse was drawing it away by his 

 halter. Considering the other as unsafe and dan- 

 gerous, I then attempted to break it down, which, 

 although evidently defective, I was not able to 

 effect. It stood till the fall, when it was so much 

 decayed that a man's strength broke it. So much 

 for salt, and if any of your readers have a mind 

 to try the experiment, I don't believe saJt will 

 save them. 



I am aware of the good eflects of charring posts 

 6 inches above and 6 inches below the surface ; 

 it adds a few years to their durability, but is not 

 sufficiently erfective. 



I have great faith in setting tliem in leached 

 ashes, and in lime mortar, liaving seen some no- 

 table examples of durability. The ashes need 

 not extend more than 6 inches below the surfiace, 

 as within that distance the decay takes place. — 

 A well seasoned post set in a tub of strong lye, 

 or solution of Potash, or boiled until thoroughly 

 saturated, would probably have the same effect. 



The rationale would seem in this case to be, 



that the alkalies neutralize the acids of the wood, 

 to which all saps have an inevitable tendency, 

 were it not that acids have the same or a more 

 palpable effect. Kyanising — saturating with 

 corrosi\ sublimate ; and cupreisiiig — saturating 

 with the sulphate of copper (blue vitriol,) — for 

 both of which processes there is a patent — whicli 

 renders wood as indestructable from decay by 

 rot as the metals or the best stone. It has been 

 well tested, and is indisputably a fact. Sulphate 

 of iron (copperas) is said to have the same effect, 

 and there is no good reason why it should not, 

 as they are all salts with a metallic base. Both 

 the copper and iron preparation are very cheap, 

 and svorthy a trial, which I intend this summer 

 to test again with my bass-wood experiment. 



The choice of timber for durability in their 

 natural states, will be found about in this ratio : 

 Red Cedar, Locust, Yellow or White Cedar, 

 White Oak, Chestnut, Yellow White-wood and 

 Black Ash, Pine, Hemlock, &c. Most woods 

 will endure about one year for every inch added 

 to their diameter. There are some remarkabb 

 stories told, of the advantage of setting posts with 

 the natural upper end down, which from their 

 credibility I am not disposed to discredit. 



Now, Mr. Printer, if all your correspondents 

 who have any experience on this subject, should 

 inflict as long a yarn as I have, there is some 

 doubt whether salt mould save you. 



Greece, Monroe Co., N. Y. L. B. L. 



Destroying Sorrel. 



Mr. Editor : — Having been for some years 

 a subscriber for, and I trust a much benefited 

 reader of the Genesee Farmer — but not having 

 seen any thing in it which meets the particular 

 point on which I wish information — permit me 

 to propose the following statement and queries : 



I have a piece of land which I design to pre • 

 pare for wheat the coming season ; the soil a 

 yellow loam, thickly overrun with a growth of 

 red sorrel, so much so in many places as to choke 

 out the last crop of wheat almost entirely. When 

 I last prepared it for wheat I intended to destroy 

 the sorrel by thorough fallowing, but did not sue • 

 ceed. What is the remedy ? Will lime, by 

 neutralizing the acid in the soil, destroy the sor- 

 rel ? If so, I wish to know at what time it should 

 be ap}>lied — whether before breaking up, or at the 

 time of preparing the ground for seed. Also, in 

 what condition the lime should be applied — what 

 quantity per acre, cVc. Finally, if lime is not 

 tlie proper remedy, will you, Mr. Editor, or will 

 s-ome one of your numerous correspondents, put 

 me on the right track ? 



By giving the above an insertion in your jour- 

 nal you will much oblige, Youi*s, &c., 

 Webster, March 5, 1847. A. Reynolds. 



Will some one that has had experience ia 

 tiie matter, answer the above '? — Ed, 



