118 
Indian Forest Records . 
[Vol. VI: 
broad gauge sleeper is doubtfully sound,, unless either the sleepers can 
be supplied at the treating plant at an extremely low cost, or the pur¬ 
chasers are willing to pay for the extra amount of oil introduced into the 
timber. 
PART VII. 
GENERAL DISCUSSION ON THE TREATMENT OF TIMBER 
IN INDIA. 
(1) The treatment of timber other than sleepers. 
Owing to the ravages of white-ants, and to the premature decay of 
timber in India, when used in construction as posts, telegraph poles, 
for weirs and bridge work, etc., attempts have, from time to time, been 
made to protect the timber by artificial means though, in this connection, 
we are far behind other countries. Enquiries have been repeatedly 
made by officers of the Public Works Department, by Railway Officials 
and by private individuals as to the best method of treating timber 
other than for sleepers, to effectively protect it from the attacks of white- 
ants or fungi or both. The answers given have necessarily had to be 
brief, and could not deal with the subject in detail. It is therefore* 
thought that it would not be out of place to conclude this note by giving, 
a short resume as to how best to deal with such cases. 
(i) Treatment oe constructional timber. 
When considering the question of treating constructional timber, the" 
following points have to be borne in mind : (i) the quantity and size of 
the timber which it is desired to treat, (ii) the position in which it is 
to be placed, (in) the choice of antiseptic, and ( iv) the cost. If the timber 
to be treated is for a large building, in other words, in considerable 
quantity, probably the erection of an Open Tank in which to treat the 
timber will be justified. Such a tank can be obtained for Rs. 300 to^ 
Rs. 500, according to its capacity, provided it is intended only for tem¬ 
porary work. The tank in which .several thousand sleepers were treated ; 
at Jagadhri, and at Shahpur in the Central Provinces, cost under Rs. 200. 
The dimensions of the tank should be dependent on the size of the material 
to be treated. The tank should be sunk into the ground to within 6" of 
the top, and if the oil is to be heated by direct fire and not by a steam 
coil, a ‘ Kutcha 5 masonry flue should be constructed underneath and 
along the length of the tank, with a sloping entrance at one end and w 
[ W8 ] 
