SEASONING AND IMPREGNATION OF TIMBER 285 
examined at one time after being in use for twenty-five 
years, all were found to be sound with the exception of 
three ; one of these was found decayed at ground line — which 
is the place they generally go first— and the two others at 
arm slots. ^ 
Sir W. H. Preece, K.C.B., Past Pres. Inst. C.E., and for 
many years Chief Engineer of the Government Telegraph 
Department for Great Britain, has stated that as a result 
of thirty years' experience he has " never seen a properly 
creosoted telegraph pole show the slightest sign of decay," 
and he mentions that a line of creosoted telegraph poles 
318 in number between Fareham and Portsmouth was 
erected in 1848, and when taken down in 1883 were as 
sound as when first erected ; with all the other systems of 
preservation telegraph poles had failed in much less time.""^ 
Burnettized poles have generally a life of only seven 
to ten years, and are very unreliable, some decaying after 
three or four years. 
The objections to creosoting are that it can only be used 
for outdoor work, the filthy condition the workmen get 
into when working with it, the long time one has to wait 
while the timber is drying, and, the greatest objection and 
the main one in some situations, its very inflammable nature. 
It is not advisable or necessary to creosote oak or hardwood 
of that character, except perhaps for railway sleepers. 
Haskynizing was a process for preserving timber by 
means of hot air, whereby it was said that its natural 
properties were solidified and all fungus life destroyed, and 
which was much lauded some years back. The author had 
a good deal of experience with it and found that in the 
1 Jour, of Proc. Inst. Elec. Eng., Vol. XXXIX. 
2 Min. of Proc. Inst. O.E., Vol. LXXVIII. 
