SAP-STAIN, MOLD, AlvTD DECAY IIST GREEN WOOD. 37 



in addition, seemed to be of some value' in controlling mold. How- 

 ever, both of these series of experiments were performed during hot 

 and dry weather — conditions unfavorable to fungous growth ; hence, 

 it is impossible to draw satisfactory conclusions from the results. 



While the fluorids may be effective in controlling decay and, to a 

 certain extent, stain-producing organisms, they can not be depended 

 upon to prevent molding. 



MERCURIC CHLORID. 



Probably the best antiseptic to prevent sap-stain and mold in green 

 wood stock is mercuric chlorid. When used on coniferous woods and 

 on many of the hardwoods in concentrations of 0.1 per cent to 1 per 

 cent, it has been found to be exceedingly efficient. The addition of 

 0.1 to 1 per cent hydrochloric acid is said to increase its stability. 

 Mercuric chlorid, however, is extremely poisonous when taken in- 

 ternally. Many individuals show a marked susceptibility to the 

 poison even when applied externally. Moreover, the solutions of 

 mercuric chlorid are corrosive to iron, zinc, and many other metals 

 commonly employed in dipping vats. For these reasons it can not be 

 recommended for general use. 



SOME RESULTS OBTAINED FROM THE VSK OF ANTISEPTICS BY VARIOUS INVESTIGATORS. 



It is probable that the efficiency of a given antiseptic varies consid- 

 erably when applied to woods of different species and at various 

 stages of air seasoning. As stated before, the results are likewise de- 

 pendent upon climatic conditions. On open-piled boards of shortleaf 

 pine in Missouri, Von Schrenk, Bessey, and Spaulding found that 5 

 per cent sodium bicarbonate or one-twentieth per cent mercuric 

 chlorid gave good results (Hedgcock, 20). On open-piled white pine 

 in Wisconsin, the first two investigators found that the solutions giv- 

 ing the best results were 5 per cent borax and 2.5 per cent sodium bi- 

 carbonate, while on boards of Norway pine in open piles 5 per cent 

 borax, one-twentieth of 1 per cent mercuric chlorid, and 2.5 per cent 

 sodium bicarbonate were most effective (Hedgcock, 20). As the re- 

 sult of experiments on longleaf pine boards in open piles at Bogalusa, 

 La., Weiss and Barnum {56^ 57) concluded that the most effective 

 antiseptics for the control of sap-stain, in that wood at least, are mer- 

 curic chlorid in concentrations of 0.1 to 1 per cent and sodium bicar- 

 bonate in strengths varying from 5 to 10 per cent. In these experi- 

 ments 5 per cent borax gave poor results. 



Hedgcock {20)., in connection with certain experiments at Balti- 

 more, Md., on the prevention of mold and stain in veneer baskets 

 made from poplar, sycamore, beech, gum, and maple, found that the 

 most effective solutions were 10 per cent sodium carbonate, 6.5 and 

 10 per cent sodium bicarbonate, 2.5 per cent sodium bicarbonate plus 



