48 METHO'DS OF COMMUNICATION FOR FOREST PROTECTION 



The experience of the Forestry Branch with untreated' spruce amd poplar poles in 

 the Prairie Provinces has shown that they have a length of life of only 3 to 5 years. 

 Eastern tamarack poles are somewhat better, lasting from 6 to 9 years. Experiments 

 have just been begun with lodgepole pine on Dominion reserves, but experience with this 

 species in the United States has shown that its dependable length of life, untreated, 

 is not over 7 years. Jack pine will, probably, be about the same. It is considered 

 that permanent trunk lines on the forest reserves should be built to last without pole 

 renewals on a large scale for at least 15 years. This may be accomplished by using 

 either well-seasoned, untreated cedar poles or well-treated native poles. 



Special instructions with regard to the use of untreated and treated poles on 

 Forestry Branch lines will be issued by the Director of Forestry. There are only two 

 methods of pole preservation that may be applied with a reasonable degree of success 

 under the conditions usually encountered on forest protection lines. These are the 

 " open- tank " method and the " brush method." The latter gives only a very slight 

 increase in durability and i only desirable under certain very special circumstances. 

 The former is the most successful method yet devised for the type of line employed 

 by the Forestry Branch. Treatment is applied only to the portion of the pole placed 

 in the ground. In some cases it may be preferable to treat & ft. or 9 ft. stubs and set 

 poles as explained in Section 91. Before any treatment is applied all adhering bark, 

 including the inner fibrous bark, should be removed with a draw-knife from the por- 

 tion of the pole to be treated. 



A's the details of the treating apparatus and the methods of treatment have not 

 yet been standardized for Forestry Branch lines, only a brief reference to these methods 

 can be made at present amd complete instructions will later be issued in the fo'rm of 

 a supplement to this manual. In the meantime, pole treatment will only be under- 

 taken in accordance with specific instructions issued by the district inspectors. 



1 OPEN-TANK METHOD 



Wherever practicable, this method of treatment is the best that can be employed. 

 Creosote, heated to a temperature not to exceed 200 F., is the preservative used. 

 (See "Preservative Treatment of Poles," United 'States Forest 'Service Bulletin ISTo. 

 84, and "Preservative Treatment of Fence-posts," Forestry Branch 'Circular No. 6.) 



2 BRUSH TREATMENT 



This process requires less equipment than any other, but the results are not 

 nearly so good as the open- tank method. Brush treatment even when well done can- 

 not be depended on to add more than 2 or 3 years to the life of a pole. A brief descrip- 

 tion follows : Hot creosote oir hot carbolineum is applied to the poles with iron-bound 

 brushes for a space of about 1 ft. above the ground line and 2 ft. below it, thus form- 

 ing a band 3 ft. wide. All seasoning checks and knot holes should be carefully filled 

 and the preservative applied as freely as possible without waste, putting on all that 

 the poles will absorb. After an interval of at least 24 hours the poles should be 

 treated with a second coat applied in the same manner. 



In hot, dry weather the creosote should be heated to a temperature of from 120 

 to 150 F. and in cold weather to 180 F. These temperatures, however, should not 

 be exceeded. In heating the creosote the utmost precaution should be taken to pre- 

 vent accidents. If the heating vessel is allowed to boil over or if creosote is spilled 

 and allowed to burn on the outside of the vessel, the contents are pretty sure to ignite 

 and burn fiercely. If creosote becomes mixed with water the mixture boils violently 

 several degrees below the boiling point of the latter. 



The preservative should never be applied to green timber nor when the surface 

 of the pole is wet from rain, snow or frost, or is frozen. 



