American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-01-29
Preserving Fence Posts.

How to keep fence posts from rotting
has been a veXed question ever since I
have known anything about farming.
and probably for many years before
Charring the part that goes into the
ground is the most usual device en-
ployed, and is highly recommended by
many. have found in nv own expe-
rience lat it doesn't amount to
shucks," and there seems to me to be
a very good reason for it, The grave
digger in Hamlet maintains that IVA
ter is sore decayer of your dead
body" and the same thing holds good
Of fence posts. Now charcoal is a very
porous substance and has the property
Of absorbing and holding a great deal
of water, SO that honestly believe that
post that is simply charred is worse
of than if it had been let alone alto
gether. Still charcoal in itself is almost
indestructible, but of course one cannot
char the post clear through, as it would
be too brittle. Tar on the outside of
an uncharred post will keep the water
out to certain degree; char the post,
and then put on tar, and the tar will be
greedily absorbed by the wood and the
water will be kept out still more, and
if your post is made of thoroughly dried
timber it will last the longer for it. But
ii there is any sap in the post, or if the
end of the wood is not more carefully
prepared than most farmers care to
take the pains to do, so that the pores
of the wood will not take up moisture
from the ground by capillary attraction,
you will find your labor entirely thrown
away. You will often find in taking up
an old fence that the posts will be all
decayed inside, while the outside shows
very little rot except just at the surface
of the ground where the water has
stood about it. u
Now have found salt one of the best
preservatives OF organic matter of every
kind. l have seen a salt fish hang for a
sign by the door of grocery for a
dozen years, growing harder and firm
er all the time, and yet it would make
first class fish balls for Sunday break
fast at the end of that time. l have
eaten salt junk on shipboard that out
lasted for years the man who picked
it, and can show you piling that was
driven in a salt marsh fifty years ago,
and IS still sound to the core, and even
more solid than the day it was driven.
The sap left in the wood, or the wa
ter that is sucked up from the earth, |
must be in some way. neutralized. or |
your post will rot. Kyanizing and kim
dred processes are too expensive, and |
need special apparatus. but they make
the wood practically indestructible |
The use OF salt, however, is almost |
equally effective, and within the reach
OF all. Bore hole lengthwise into the
post, from the lower end, and some
what deeper than the post is to set in
the ground. About an inch and half |
is large enough for the diameter of the
hole. Fill nearly full of dry salt, and
plug tightly with a dry plug, being
careful not to split the post. If YOU tar
The lower end it will be all the better,
though it is not Indispensable.
In setting the posts be careful to heap
,hc ground around them, and to keep
Il heaped if possible, as it is liable to
settle and make depression where
water will gather and stand. and event
lally destroy the post. If these direc-
ions are followed, and if the timber is
airly dry to begin with, you may be
ure that the fence will last fully as
ong as, in these days of change, YOU
will want to keep fence in one place,
md will bear moving after that.-Cor.
NeU England Farmer.