THE 



GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 



II j — TTuZuuZr and thoTe latter for creosoting, the two would be the same cost ; 



tun, a »« w/ ~ — threads of the Utter »* ™» j but the forraer one* would last, under the most favour; 

 the most external, presenting now and then a <J ee P j ftble c i rcumsta nces, not more than 10 or 12 years, and 



tint, a few only of the 



vellow tinge. It is true, that where the wall o 

 LngJcells, as in the asci of Peziz* » very distinct 

 from the central substance, the membrane so treated 

 is violet : but even then the nitrogenous contents are 

 very conspicuous ; in most cases, especially in the 

 very youngest fungal tissues, the colour of the pro- 

 tein mass within quite overpowers the violet of the 

 cellulose. We have no doubt, then, of the real 

 nature of the son. f . 



This example may serve to show how possible it 

 is that certain Cryptogams, such as Elachistea 

 scutulata, may, after all be only cases of hyper- 

 trophy of cellular tissue, though it will not sanction 

 the views of authors who would resolve most epi- 

 phyllous parasitic fungi, even where mycelium is 

 very evident, into mere 



instances of anomalous 



development of cells m 



It may be remarked also that this chemical test 

 is often very valuable where it is requisite to ascer- 

 tain the state of diseased tissues. We have been 

 able to establish with the greatest certainty the pre- 

 sence of mycelium in morbid plants, by this treat- 

 ment, where we could ascertain nothing certain by 

 the unassisted microscope. Such tissues exhibit 

 sometimes the most beautiful appearance. A slice 

 of Cucurbita verrucosa, for instance, or of an Apple 

 when just beginning to be attacked by mycelium, is 

 a most beautiful object. The delicate violet of the 

 cell walls, the yellowish tint of the fluid contained 

 in them, the deep indigo of the starch grains, and 

 the orange threads of the mycelium creeping amongst 

 them, afford the most charming effect. Under such 

 treatment, there will be no danger of confounding 

 either the sections of the walls themselves or the 

 folds which so often appear on them with threads 

 of mycelium. The merest glance is sufficient to 

 show the difference. 



Our figures give two views of 

 the threads ; in the latter case, which is more highly 

 magnified, the connection of the granular threads 

 with a large torn folded cell is very evident. M.J.B. 



ON THE PRESERVATION OF TIMBER BY 



CREOSOTE.* 



By J. E. Clift, of Birmingham. 



In the present day, when the requirements for timber 



in the various mining, engineering, and other works are 



so great, it becomes necessary to consider carefully the 



best means of rendering it as durable as possible, and 



that at the least expense ; and the writer cannot think 



that sufficient attention has been paid to the subject by 



the parties most interested, from the fact that but few 



of the larger consumers of that article have adopted any 



plans for its preservation ; and this fact must be the 



apology for bringing before the Institution a paper upon 



a process which has been partially in use for several 



years. 



In looking through the colliery districts, it is found 

 that thousands of loads of timber are taken green from 

 the forests and used every year ; aud the greater portion 

 is used in the pits where, owing to damp atmosphere 

 and increased temperature, it is rotted in a few months ; 



the other would be good/under any circumstances, in all 

 probability, in a hundred years. 



This system of preserving timber has been in use on 

 several railways, and other works, for several years 

 past. A portion of the London and North-Western 

 Railway, about 17 miles in length, has been laid with 

 the creosoted sleepers from 9 to 1 1 years, during which 

 period the engineer reports that no instance has 

 occurred in which any decay has been detected in 

 them ; and they continue as sound as when first put 

 down. On the Stockton and Darlington Railway creo- 

 soted sleepers have also been laid for 10 years, and are 

 found to continue without any appearance of change or 

 decay ; also, on the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, 

 creosoted timber has been used for five years, as paving- 

 blocks, posts, &c. : the upper part becomes very hard, 

 and the part underground appears as fresh as when 

 taken out of the creosote tank, though the timber was of 

 inferior, sappy quality. In a trial commenced 12 years 

 since, by Mr. Price, of Gloucester, of the comparative 

 durability of timber in the covers of a Melon-pit, where 

 it was exposed constantly to the combined action of 

 decomposing matter and the atmosphere, the unprepared 

 timber became decayed in one year, and required re- 

 placing in a few years ; a portion of the timber that had 

 been Kyanised lasted well for about seven years, but 

 then gradually, though very slowly, became quite de- 

 cayed ; but the timber that had been creosoted still 

 continues as sound as when first put down, 12 years 

 since. From these facts, it appears not unreasonable to 

 infer, that if timber be made to continue unchanged, 

 and to show no symptom of decay for 10 or 12 years, 

 under circumstances that reduce unprepared timber to 

 dust in two years, and in the absence of any proof to 

 the contrary, we may expect to find it will last an un- 

 limited period, and that 100 years will be a moderate 

 life to assign to it. And not only does this creosoting 

 process render wood free from decay, but it also pre- 

 serves it from the attacks of the teredo worm, when 

 used for ship-building, harbours, docks, and other works 



contiguous to the sea. 



This has been satisfactorily proved at Lowestoft 

 Harbour, where the plan has had a very extensive trial 

 for four years ; and the superintendent reports that 

 there is no instance whatever of an uncreosoted pile 

 being sound ; they are all attacked by the limnoria 

 and the teredo to a very great extent, and the piles in 

 some instances are eaten through ; but there is no 

 instance whatever of a creosoted pile being touched, 

 either by the teredo or the limnoria, and all the 

 creosoted piles are quite sound, though covered with 

 vegetation, which generally attracts the teredo. This 

 extraordinary fact is to be accounted for by the creosote 

 remaining intact in the timber, either wet or dry ; and, 

 being destructive to all animal life, is proof against the 

 attack of these parasites ; — whereas, with the other 

 processes, the metallic salts are washed out, or that 

 portion which unites with and coagulates the albumen 

 is rendered quite innocuous by the process. Several 

 specimens exhibited proved that the ravages of the 

 worm reduce the unprepared timber to a completely 

 honeycombed state in two years; but the creosoted 

 timber remains untouched after a period of four years. 



teredo had penetrated 

 an 



left 



proceeding any further. 



-eao had penetrated a little way imo~7T^ 



d then attempted to turn to the right and* Part » 

 t, and had ultimately quitted the \ Zt ** * ** 



timber 

 xoung wood was 



without 



porous round the exterior, and consequentlv *£ "J * 

 most creosote, which formed a shield to iJl ^ 



. The creosoted sleepers were better Zvlt 



worm 



put 

 became 



or ten years than when new, because the creo<^ - 

 consolidated in them and rendered them harder S* 

 had taken the idea originally from the Fa ♦: 

 mummy ; it was exactly the same process • anv /^ 

 put into a creosote tank assumed the appearaLTS 



m like condition to a mummy TimV? 

 creosoted was now chiefly used in railways YniT 

 believed that if it was introduced into coal-pits'it w u 

 be found that no timber so used in those places would° U i+ 

 Mr. Clift said he had taken up the subject in \h 

 present paper with the object of drawing attention t 

 pit timber, and he was satisfied that if the timber uLS 

 in coal-pits was creosoted, it.might, when done with* 

 one situation, be again taken out to use in anothf* 

 place ; whereas now, because the dry rot seized th 

 timber so quickly, it was left behind in the working 

 of the pits. s 



Mr. Bethell, in answer to questions put by the 

 chairman, said that every piece of timber was weighed 

 before it was put into the creosote tank, and again when 

 taken out, and each piece was required to be increased 

 in weight by the process 10 lbs. per cubic foot • the 

 quantity of oil used always rather exceeded the weight 

 gained in the timber, on account of the loss of weight 

 from the moisture extracted by the exhaustion of the 

 air-pump. Oak only absorbed half as much creosote 

 as Memel timber. Common Fir creosoted would last 

 double the time of hard wood creosoted, because it took 

 more creosote. Beech made the best wood, being full 

 of very minute pores, and they could force a greater 

 quantity of creosote into the Beech than into any other 

 wood ; consequently it took a more uniform colour 

 throughout from the process. — Long pieces of timber 

 were found to require more time to saturate them in 

 proportion to their length, and the creosote appeared to 

 enter at the two ends and be forced up through the 

 whole length of the pores. The progress was known by 

 the quantity of creosote forced into the tank after it 

 was filled, according to the number of cubic feet of 

 timber contained in the tank. Civil Engineer and 

 Architects 9 Journal. 



BRITISH SONG BIRDS. 



, . , - „ . , , . , , - , There are two processes in use by Mr. Bethell, for 



^fffi ^ with creosote ;-one is by placing 



for years. It may be observed, also, that the railway 

 engineers are seeking for a more durable bearing for 

 the rails in iron sleepers, and overlooking the means of 

 making wood, which is allowed to be the most agreeable 



the wood in a strong iron cylinder, and exhausting the 

 air from it by an air-pump, until a vacuum is created, 



equal to about 12 lbs. on the square inch ; the creosote 

 r , „. , ± . . , . f T is then allowed to flow into the cylinder, and afterwards 



for travellmg upon, and the most durable, as well as the a pressure is put upon the creosote, by a force-pump, 

 most economical, material for the permanent way. - ■ - - f * v V9 



The plan which is the subject of the present paper is 

 the one invented by Mr. Bethell, for the use of a material 

 obtained by the distillation of coal-tar. This material 



equal to about 150 lbs. on the square inch ; the timber 

 when taken out is fit for use. 



The second process is by placing the timber in a 

 drying- house, and passing the products of combustion 



("Instinct" in the Labger Animals.*) 



No. LIX. — Our observations hitherto have, of course, 

 been principally confined to the instinct of the feathered 

 tribes — our legitimate subject of investigation ; and we 

 have shown how Nature varies her gifts to all and each 

 of her children, on particular occasions. When they 

 are breeding, for instance, they have a double share of 

 affection (2to/>7^) given them, and when their offspriug 

 are able to " run alone," the latter are immediately 

 forsaken, and recognised no longer. So also, at the end 

 of the breeding season, a separation takes place between 

 the parent birds, who, for the most part, seldom again 

 commit matrimony without selecting each a new mate. 

 All that has passed between them during summer, in 

 the way of love and affection, becomes in the autumn 

 forgotten ; and each successive season opens for them 

 new views, new occupations. We will now, as our space 

 is becoming circumscribed, take a glance at certain 

 animals whose intelligence is of a still higher order. (It 

 we were to shrink from this, we should be accused, 

 justly, of having acted with unfairness, and of having 

 " garbled" the inquiry.) Of these there are so many, 

 that we must of necessity select a few only to dilate 

 upon. Let us take at random the Elephant, the t ox, 

 the Hare, the Beaver, the Cat, the Horse, and the Dog. 



It would be folly in us to attempt to prove, that in au 

 the creatures we have named there does not exist » 



rtniof of 8eriCS 1 "T^Ti ° iIS ' «T WM V?* th r V4hTt77herTb y not Zfy d^Ee tiito ^ ^aSSwXnZSZ powTro f , ^ception and ready 

 LZTaJ r°* *' T. ±KJ2^ JSS ^ impregnating i£ to a ce/tai/exLt, with the vcLife itS tC tomin^ continuSly ire us .in -J 



acknowledged to possess the most powerful antiseptic 

 properties. The action of this material may be thus 

 described :— When injected into a piece of wood, the 

 creosote coagulates the albumen, thus preventing the 

 putrefactive decomposition, and the bituminous oils 



enter the whole of the capillary tubes, incasing the 



oily matter and creosote contained in the products given 

 off from the fuel used to heat the house. When the 

 timber is taken out of this house, it is at once immersed 

 in hot creosote in an open tank, thus avoiding the use of 

 a steam-engine, or pumps. 



Specimens were exhibited of creosoted sleepers which 



way or other. We cannot but feel amazed at »«"" 

 gence. Still, we find them all partaking of the bm. 

 natural endowments, and, however cultivated, never 

 to get beyond a certain point,— at which point auw 

 sagacity terminates. They are born for a purpo __, ^ 

 that purpose they fulfil. 





reason is never stationary 



With"™, that which we call 

 we shall know to-morrow 



and unaffected by air, renders the process applicable to 

 any situation. So little is this oil affected " 

 atmospheric change that the writer has seen 



by 



unchanged ; also specimens of creosoted piles from 

 Lowestoft Harbour, which had been in the sea for four 



Dy ; years, and continued quite fresh and sound, and without 

 iron pipes that had merely been painted over* with it ^ touched i b y * he WCI ™ 5 with specimens of similar 

 and laid in a light g^/ j foot P be neath the surface' ^JEST"?*' ^ ^ F^ ^fZ' S8* ""* 

 taken up after 20 years, and they appeared and smel ■ ??£ * * Z™ 7 *** hone y combed bv the worm 

 hen as fresh as when first laid down. By using these I - -® - ame pen ° d * 

 bituminous i oils, the most inferior timber, and that 

 which would otherwise soonest decay from being more 

 porous and containing more sap, or being cut too younff 

 or at the wrong season, i a rendered the most durable! 

 1 his mil be readily understood when it is considered 

 toat this porous wood will absorb a larger portion of the 

 preserving material than the more close and hard woods • 



reason is never siaiioiiaxy — «u w— • A Afa ^ Q onr 



more than we know to-day ; and every year 



a rt«™»7i ""««««, engineers wm be enabled to use 

 „s?!™ P er t,mber w,th greater advantage than they could 



St a o r a , ' e Q , eXpen8, r A tirabe . runc rfT ted ;^s, taking the 

 cost of a sleeper of American Yellow Pine at 4s and 



o°^Scotch_ Fir at 3,., and the n adding t. to tne 



^P^Jat STtoUtation Of MecnanicaV Engiaeer,, 



Mr. Bethell observed, that when he first commenced 

 to preserve timber, he found that no pressure would get 

 the creosote into the timber, from the presence of the , 

 moisture in the pores, and it became necessary to adopt 

 the system of drying the timber first ; and after 1 4 days ! 

 he found that the wood lost 3 lbs. in weight in every 

 cubic foot ; this was by the old process of drying. He 

 then introduced the present drying-house, and in 12 or 



j 14 hours they lost 8 lbs. per cubic foot, in Scotch 

 sleepers, and these then absorbed an equal weight of 

 creosote. An average of 11£ lbs. of creosote per cubic 

 foot was now put into all the Memel timber at Leith 

 Harbour works ; it was forced in with a pressure of 

 180 lbs. per inch. One piece of creosoted timber had 

 been observed at Lowestoft, which had been half cut 



, through for a mortice, but not filled up again, and a 



wisaom in a marvellous aegrce. •«■ — - r^nenn. is 



and we gain other ten talents. Our .talent, waw ^ 

 always " out at interest." Vires acquint euncto, 



running stream. i,«„an,pr and 



The Fox is an animal of a predatory ^^^^1 

 therefore obnoxious to mankind, who are e 



enemy. He is therefore gifted with a , ver y ^ 

 cunning— only look at his countenance !—•?*•* t con . 

 enables him to save his life ; though sometimes 

 siderable hazard. All his race are «f^^ nkn o*B 

 they are born so. One of these animals has Dec 



having eaten w -. 

 as to prevent hiseff^ 



through the hole at which he entered. Thro | 

 self on his back, as if killed by surfeit, he has m ^ 

 rently dead and waited the opening °* ^ a ^ ' rfunit 

 « taken up for dead," he has watched hi opp > , : 

 darted from the hand that held him, ana _r^ 



t week of the prweot >ear. we 



t*» 



* At this is tbelatt week of the Patent j -- • 8 | 0tt * 

 right, iiprmtd. to bring ^J^ ^^^^1^. 



aid quite ^fficieot^ 

 "investigation. 



clo«e. 



renting <loes it be rne. We have 

 dnv.e " thought," and to lead to 

 must do the rest, 



