Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1909-04-01
Why Wood Decays


Piles driven by the hut dwellers of
the Baltic centuries ago are as sound
today as when first placed. The
wooden coffins in which the Egyptians
buried their dead are still preserved
IN perfect condition after thousands OF
years OF service.
The longevity of timber under these
two extremes of climate and moisture
copdl,. ons has naturally made peoplr
ask, Wat causes wood decay? The
an.wer ia, fungi and bacteria, low
iorms of plant life which live IN the
wood and draw their nourishment
from il. The little organisms are 30
little tpat microscope is required to
see them, yet their work results IL
the destruction of billions OF ct OF
timber each year aud the railroad
corr rorAtion with It's cross tie bill run
npg up into seven figures and the
farmer who spends a hundred or so
dollars year for fence posts are alike
drawing upon the knowledge OF ex-
perts in all parts Of the world In ef'
forts to learn the most economical and
satisfactory methods of preserving
wood against inrosds Of decay IL
studying the means Of preventing de-
cay, Wood.preserviug experts have
learned many things about the
obnoxious fungi which sap the life OF
timber.
The small organisms can grow eth
er in light or in total darkness but
all of them require requisite amounts
Of air, food, moisture and heat. II
one or more OF these essential require
mants is lacking, they will not live,
and the decay of timber will not take
place. Wood constantly submerged
IN water never rots, simply because
there is an insufficient supply Of air.
ruls condition accounts for the sound
uess Of the ola Baltic piles. On the
other hand, if wood can be kept air
Try il will not theu decay because II
Will then have too little moisture. The
Imber usd by the Egyptians will lasi
lnde6nitely 80 long as 1t is bone'dry
There are a great many Cases, how
ever, where 1t is impossible to keep
WOO submerged in water, or IN an
absoluteiy air. dry condition. In fact
large percentage of the timber which
IL used is exposed to The weather. and
Is subjected to decay simply because
1t contains air enough aud enough
water for the decomposiug organisms
10 get foothold. Decay is most Sc
rious where the atmosphere is warm
and damp, for these conditions are
most favorable for its Development.
In the coal miues OF Penn-ylvania TIM
o decays In two or three years be
cause the temperature rs warm and
constant and the air is damp. And
IN the South, the warm, humid atmos,
phere often causes the timber TO Itp
div decompose.
Dee'y nay be prevented by two
general methods. by treating the wood
With antiseptlcs, thus poisoning the
t,od SUPPLY Of the organisms which
Cause decay, and by treating it with
lis which render it waterproof. A
combination Of these two methods is
mos commonly used, as when wood
Is treated with creosote which fills up
he pores in the timber and keeps out
enter and is also powerful sntisep
tic.
The United States government con-
-iders the investigation of the pre-
servative treatment Of such impor-
ance that the business of one branch
# bureau in the Department Of Ag-
riculture-the "Ofice of Wood Pre-
servation" in the Forest Service at
Washington. has given over entirely
to the work Of experiments in cooper
alton with railroad companies and in
iividuals in prolonging the life Of
"a lroad ties, mine props. bridge tim
)ers, fence posts aud transmission
poles. Advice aud practical assist
,nce lie furnished all who request this
advice of the Forester. The length
ming Of the life of timber means the
,ving of thousands OF dollars sunu-l
through doing away with the heavy
xpeuse of labor and cost of material
ior renewals.