SAP-STAIN, MOLD, AND DECAY IN GREEN WOOD. 45 
Table II. — Condition of the spokes in car No. 2 upon arrival at its destination. 
Location in car. 
Material. 
Antiseptic. 
Condition. 
Percent- 
age 
molded 
(based 
on 840 
spokes 
per rick). 
Ricks in the end of 
the car contain- 
ing treated spokes: 
White oak. . 
j....do 
<Red oak. . .. 
(....do 
l....do 
[....do 
do 
White oak . . 
do 
.. .do 
Untreated 
147 moldy; a few sap-stained 
1 moldy 
17.5 
A few untreated layers at top 
Remaining layers borax, 5 
per cent. 
Top layers borax, 5 per cent . 
Second rick 
67 moldy; many sap-stained. 
7 moldy ; many sap-stained . . 
4 moldy ; some sap-stained. . . 
Spokes very dark in color . 
34 moldy ; some sap-stained . . 
300 moldy ; many with Pen- 
icilliumin allpartsofrick, 
badly damaged. 
330 moldy: much sap-stain . . 
292 moldy; much sap-stain . . 
No mold; no sap-stain 
87 moldy; many sap-stained 
312 moldy: many sap-stained 
7.9 
.8 
.4 
Third rick 
Bottom layer salt 
4.0 
Fourth rick 
Salt 
35. 7 
Fifth rick 
Untreated 
39.3 
Sixthrick 
Ricks in the door- 
way and in the 
opposite end of 
the car: 
do 
do 
34.8 

do 
do 
10.4 
Second rick 
do 
do 
do 
....do 
37.1 
licks. 
The proportion of infected spokes, based on the total number in 
the different lots in the end of the car containing these spokes, is : 
Untreated 29 per cent moldy. 
Salted : 32. 3 per cent moldy. 
Borax (treated) 7. 3 per cent moldy. 
Lime (treated) 1. 3 per cent moldy. 
These figures can by no means be used as a basis for an exact com- 
parison of the values of the three preservatives. The location of the 
ricks in the car introduces another and very important factor. To 
note whether the hygroscopic property of the salt had a tendency to 
affect the humidity in the end of the car in which the salted spokes 
were stacked, thus influencing, perhaps, the amount of molding in 
adjacent lots, it was decided to observe the unloading of the spokes 
in the opposite end of the car. After two ricks had been unloaded, 
however, it became evident that this was not the case, as conditions 
in that end were practically the same as in the first. From the data 
derived, at least from this lot, given in Table II, it would seem that 
salt when applied dry to green spokes is of little value in. controlling 
either sap-stain or mold. Lime, though effective in preventing both 
mold and sap-stain, yet because of its darkening effect on the wood 
and its tendency to form calcium carbonate, which cases over the 
surface and is said to dull the knives used in subsequent processes of 
manufacture, is debarred from further consideration. Borax, how- 
ever, with 7.3 per cent moldy spokes, seems to be somewhat effective 
against mold, but of less value in controlling sap-stain. 
