Hop-poles, Wood Fences, ^'c, against Decay. 
507 
acid as I have found in creosote recently purchased, can be 
relied upon for its power of preventing the decay of hop-poles 
for a reasonable number of years. 
Creosote, suitable for preserving hop-poles or wooden fences, 
in my judgment should contain not less than 10 per cent, of 
crude carbolic and cresylic acid ; and if the percentage of these 
tar-acids rises above 10 per cent., the creosote will be all the 
better for the purpose of protecting the poles against decay. 
In a sample of commercial creosote sent to me for analysis a 
short time ago, I found no less than 14"76 per cent, of ammoniacal 
water. 
This sample, on distillation up to 610° F., yielded only 
39 08 per cent, of products volatile at that temperature, in- 
cluding only 4J per cent, of crude carbolic acid. The ammo- 
niacal liquor, amounting to 14^ per cent., is most objectionable ; 
and 4;^ per cent, of crude tar-acids appears to me insufficient to 
neutralise the effect in the sap of young wood of those consti- 
tuents which cause in wet ground its rapid decay if unprotected. 
There can be little or no doubt that a creosoting liquor of the 
character of this sample is altogether unsuitable for the purpose 
for which it was used. 
Not quite so bad, but still anything but good creosoting 
liquors, were two other samples, recently purchased by hop- 
growers in Kent. These samples contained respectively : — 
No. 1. 
No. 2. 
Distillate from boQing point to a temperature ofl 
6103 Fahr / 
Including : — 
Specific gravity of creosote at 60° Fahr. 
39 08 
3 per cent. 
1 ■ 102 
61-75 
4 per cent. 
1-103 
I fear, under the name of creosote, tarry liquors are often sold 
to hop-growers which are not worth much, if anything, for pro- 
tecting hop-poles against premature decay ; and I would strongly 
urge upon farmers who are in the habit of creosoting wood not 
to buy any creosote unless it is guaranteed of a well-defined 
quality. 
The Crown agents of the Colonies, the War-Office, and pro- 
bably other Government Offices, in entering into contracts for 
the supply of creosote, issue specifications to govern the quality 
of supplies of creosoting liquors. Tar distillers and dealers in 
creosoting liquors surely ought to know what they are selling, 
and farmers will do well to insist upon being supplied with 
creosoting liquor of a guaranteed quality. I would suggest the 
