42 BULLETIN 1037, U. S, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



all parallel to the length of the car was laid across the floor. An 

 interval of perhaps 1 or 2 inches separated the members of a pair, 

 and the distance between successive pairs was made a little less 

 than the length of a spoke. Upon either end of these was laid a 

 single transverse row of spokes. A third \a.jer similar to the first 

 and a fourth similar to the second were then laid down. With two 

 more alternate layers a comparatively open base six layers in height 

 and providing for partial aeration of the ricks was constructed. 

 Upon this base the remaining spokes of the rick were close piled in 

 successive layers, two or three spokes in depth. Each alternate 

 horizontal layer was placed at a slight angle to those directly above 

 and below, but all had a general direction lengthwise of the car. 

 Each rick when built to within 2 feet or so of the roof contained 

 on an average 833 spokes. As soon as one end of the car had been 

 filled ricks were placed in the opposite end. In the doorway three 

 longitudinal ricks were constructed and any space remaining was 

 filled in with loose spokes. In this jDarticular case one end of the 

 car was stacked with the hot-creosoted spokes, the opposite end and 

 1^ ricks in the doorway being stacked with the cold-creosoted spokes. 

 Parts of two ricks in or near the doorway comprised spokes treated 

 with mercuric chlorid, and the remainder consisted of untreated spokes 

 thrown in loosely between the longitudinal ricks and the doorway. 

 Both doorways were boarded up with 6-inch boards spaced 1^ inches 

 apart, and both doors were left open for about 1 foot. This car left 

 the yard on July 24, consigned to one of the large vehicle factories 

 of the North and reached its destination on August 14. On August 

 15 and 16 it was unloaded and inspected by C. J. Humphrey and the 

 writer. During the time that the car was in transit the weather was 

 in general hot *and dry, although local showers may have been 

 encountered. 



CONDITION OF SPOKES IN CAR NO. 1 UPON ARRIVAL AT DESTINATION. 



The inspection at the time of arrival was very thorough, each spoke 

 being handled separately and a record kept of the number showing 

 mold in any degree. Observations were also made, in a general way, 

 of the extent of sap-stain and incipient rot. No attempt was made to 

 discriminate between heavy and light infections, as these largely 

 depended, with a given preservative, on the position of the spokes 

 in the ricks or in the car with respect to the amount of ventilation 

 received. In general, the top layers to a depth of 15 to 18 inches 

 showed very little mold; likewise, the loosely arranged bases were 

 quite free or comparatively so. The molds consisted for the most 

 part of fluffy white to tawny mycelium, together with a compara- 

 tively small amount of green Penicillium. In the case of the cold- 

 creosoted spokes, there seemed to be an increase over the amount 



