The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1909-04-01
Why Wood Decays.
Washington, March.

LDo DalCic centuries dSO al Z DIS oOuliu
today as when first placed. The
wooden cofins in which the Egyp-
tians buried their dead are still pre-
served in perfect condition after
thousands of years Of service.
The longevity OF timber under
these two extremes Of climate and
moisture conditions has naturally
made people ask, What causes wood
decay? The answer IS, fungi and
bacteria, low forms Of plant life
which live in the wood and draw
their nourishment from it. The little
organisms are so little that a micro
scope is required to see them, yet
their work results in the destruction
of billions of feet of timber each
year and the railroad corporation
with its cross tie bill running up in
to seven figures and the farmer who
spends hundred or so dollars year
for fence posts are alike drawing
upon the knowledge Of experts in all
parts Of the world in efforts to learn
! the most economical and most salts
/ factory method of preserving wood
against the inroads Of decay. IL
studying the means Of preventing
decay wood experts have
learned many things about the OBJ
noxious fungi which sap the life of
timber.
The small organisms can grow
either in light or in total darkness;
but all of them require requisite
amounts of air, food, moisture and
heat. If one or more OF these essen
tial requirements is lacking, they
can not live, and the decay of tim
Der will not take place. Wood con-
stantly submerged in water never
rots, simply because there is an in
sufficient supply Of air. This condi
ton accounts for the soundness of
the old Baltic piles. On the other
hand, if wood can be kept air-dry il
will not decay because there will
then be too little moisture. The
timber used by the Egyptians will
last indefinitely SO long as it is bone
dry.
There are a great many cases, how
ever, where it is impossible to keep
wood submerged in water, or in an
absolutely air-dry condition. In fact,
a large percentage of the timber
which is used is exposed to the wealth
er, and is subjected to decay simply
because it contains enough air and
enough water for the deconlposing
organisms to get foothold. Decay
is most serious where the atmo5-
phere is warm and damp. because
these conditions are most favorable
for it's development. In the coal
mines of Pennsylvania timber decays
in two or three years because the
temperature is warm and constant
and the air is damp. And in the
South, the warm, humid atmosphere
often causes the timber to rapidly
decompose,
Decay may be prevented by two
general methods, by treating the
wood with antiseptics, thus poison
ing the food supply of the organisms
which cause decay and by treating il
with oils which render it waterproof
A combination Of these two methods
is most commonly used, IS when
wood is treated with creosote which
fills up the pores in the timber and
keeps out water and is also q power.
: full antiseptic.
The United States government
F considers the Investigations of the
praservative treatment Of timber OF
such importance that the business OF
, one branch Of bureau in the De
, partnent Of fAgriculture-tte" Office
of Wood Preservation" in the Fores
, Service at Westinghouse glvef
over entirely to the work of experl
ments in cooperation with railroad
! companies and individuals in pro
longing the life of railroad ties, mln'
: props. bridge timbers, fence post
= and transmission poles, Advice an'
: practical assistance is furnished al
who request this advice OF the For
ester. The lengthening OF life Q
n timber means the saving Of thous
n ands of dollars annually through dc
ing away with the heavy expense 0
labor and cost Of material Tor ra
h newals
q DeNitt's Little Early Rlscrs, gcntt(
.,,,,n Itt la lIypf' h II.