Treatment of U'cstcrn 



! : i)ic 



105 



8. What is the annual service charge for poles under each 

 type of treatment? 



With these objects in view many original experiments with 

 schemes for treating and new plans for handling poles during 

 treatments were evolved, meeting with final success. 



For these tests the poles of each seasonal cut were appor- 

 tioned for different types of treating experiments. It is a part 

 of the plan to keep each pole under complete record from the 

 time of cutting until it is removed from the pole line. This 

 inchi'les a complete record of the treatment received. Each 

 pole is branded with a number and maps are made of experi- 

 mental pole lines showing its location. Experiments were con- 

 ducted with 730 pine poles. 



Liquid preservative substances can be applied directly to 

 the butts of poles with a brush. This type of treatment is far 

 less effective than any of the forms of tank treatment but is 

 less expensive. The treatment adds only a short time to the 

 life of the pole because only the surface is coated with the 

 preservative while a large area is exposed to infection in the 

 season checks, the surface area of which in a given zone may 

 be equal to the surface of the pole. In that case only half of 

 the exposed surface would be coated by a brush treatment. 

 Further, it is subject to abrasion in handling. The absorption 

 and penetration depend largely upon the dryness of the timber. 



The oil heated to about 200 degrees F. is applied with a large 

 paint brush. A second coat is given a day or two later. The 

 following absorptions were secured on thoroughly seasoned 

 Western Yellow Pine : 



TABLE 4. WESTERN YELLOW PINE POLE BUTT 6 CUBIC FEET. 

 Absorption by brush treatment. 



The carbolineum penetrated tb~ pine more readily than 

 creosote. Carbolineums cost from three to five times as much 

 as creosote. 



A special tank was designed in an attempt to enclose the 

 butt of a pole tightly enough to permit great pressure being 

 applied to inject preservatives. The difficulties in the way of 

 success of plans of this nature are, that it is almost impossible to 

 secure an oil-tight mechanical grip upon the lower end of the pole. 

 Leakage is due mainly to season checks. This apparatus was 



