The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1888-11-10
SEASONING TIMBER.
Ths Proper Treatment Of Wood Intcnde
for building Purposes.

Ireatmcnt ot WOOD inttndct
for building Purposes.
Tho following. by Mr.. Il. T. Fcrnow.
chief of the Forestry Division of the d.
pnrtment OF Agriculture, published in
recent bulletin, will 'utercst those
who contemplate building or need 10
use wcll-seasohcd tiTqber for any pur-
pose.
With proper after treatment OF the
wood the time OF folang seems not 10
affect its durability. Early winter
telling Oecembcr) should have the
preference. because less fcrmontablo
sap is thcn in the tr~ss, and the timber
will season with toss care, moro slowly
and more evenly. and before the tom
perature Is warm enough for formenta-
tion 90 set in. II the wood IL cut "in
the zap" IL is more liable TO fermenta-
tion and 10 the attacks OF insects, and
more care Is necessary In seasoning;
for the rapid seasoning, due TO tho
warm dry atmosphere. produces an
outer season coat which onvelops an
unscasoncd interior liable TO decay.
When cut I'm the leaf tits advantageous
90 let the tree lie full length until tho
leaves arc thoroughly withcrcd (two
or three wooks) before cutting TO size.
With conifers this il good practice ut
my season, and II 10 can be done, all
wintor-fcllcd trees should be left lying
20 leaf out in the spring, by which most
of the sap is worked out and ovaporatcd.
Always remove the bark from felled
timber TO aid seasoning. but not from
the standing tree.
Never allow tho log 20 lie directly
on the moist soil.
II winter-felled, shape the timber TO
size within two weeks after folling and
leave IL placed on blocks, not upon tho
soil, In the forest, or IL shaped Mt
homo place In n dry, airy, not windy.
position AWAY from the sun and rain.
II dried too rapidly wood warps and
splits, the cracks collect water and the
timber Is then easily attacked and de-
ttroyod by rot.
With large logs checking may be
prevented by coating tho ends with
some fatty or oily substance mixed
with brick dust, or covering with n
piece OF linen, cloth, or even paper, or
by simply shaking them TO lessen
evaporation; cracks on tho sides may
be filed in with tow or cotton.
When piling timber, place laths or
sticks Of uniform size at uniform dis
tances under each log or post or tic.
Sufficiently thorough seasoning for
most purposes IL obtained in twelve
10 eighteen months. while for special
work, according 90 the size, from two
20 ten years Is required.
Tho best mothod Of obtaining proper
seasoning without costly apparatus in
shorter time Is 90 immcrse tho pre-
pared timber in water from one 90
three weeks 90 dissolve the fcrmcnta-
bic matter the surface. This il best
done by running watcr--if such II not
at hand, bath may be substituted,
the water Of which needs frequent
change. Timber 80 treated, like raft
timber, will season more quickly and
Is known 90 be more durable.
II practicable the application OF
boiling water or steam Il an advantage
In teaching out the sap.
Never apply paint or any other coat
Ing 90 green or unscasoncd timber.
II the wood was not well dried or
seasoned the coat will only hasten
decay.
Good coatings consist Of oily or res
inous substance. which make IA smooth
coat, capable Of being uniformly ap-
Piled they must cover every part,
must not crack, and possess n certain
amount Of Elasticity after drying.
Coal tar, with or without sand or
plaster or pitch, especially II mixed
with oil Of turpcntinc and applied hot
(thus penetrating more dccply), an
swcrs best. A mixture OF three parts
Of coal tar and one part clean, unsalt-
cd grease, 90 prevent the tar from dry
ing until 10 has had time 90 Gll tho
minute pores, Il recommended. Ono
barrel 81 coal tar will cover 800 posts.
Wood tar IL not scrviccablc because IL
docs not dry.
Oil paints arc ncxt In value. Boiled
linsccd oil or any other drying ycgctn-
blo-nOt animal-Oils, are used with
lead or any other body Oikc pulycr-
lied charcoaD 20 give substance. I'm
mersion IN crude petroleum Is also
recommended.
Charrng Of those parts which come
l. k.f.f
sidcred only ~ an imperfect prcscrya-
tive. unless considerable layer oi
charcoal is formed, and n II II not
carefully done, the effect Is often det-
rimcntal, a. the process both wcakcns
the timber and produces cracks. thus
exposing the interior 90 icrmcnts.