The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1912-05-11
PERSONALITIES
FOR FENCE POSTS
(From Idaho Country Life)
BY c. H. SHATTUcK, Forester.

D Few farmers appreciate the great
e saving there is in treating fence rosts
f with creosote. This saving is realized
in three ways. First, by means of the
f added years of usefulness which the
: treated post has, for it is known that
the properly treated post will last
from two to four times as long as the
untreated one; second, there is saw
ing in the labor necessary to keep up
fences since they do not require re-
setting SO often; and third, cheaper,
species Of wood can be used for posts.
These are more often easily treated
and will last fully as long after treat
ment as the harder and more expen-
sive species.
The methods of treatment are SIM
| pie and, compared with the advantage
gained, inexpensive.
METHODS OF TREATMENT.
Three methods of treatment are in
general use, known respectively as the
brush, dipping and tank methods
The Brush Method. This is the
cheapest and also the least effective.
In using this as we'll as the dipping
method, the posts should be dry. rhe
creosote should be applied with
large brush or whitewash brush. AT
ter tie first coat has dried in il sec
ond should be applied, care being ia
ken tc fill all checks and knots during
each application. The objection to
this method is that the quantity ,of
creosote absorbed by the post is not
sufficient to give it its greatest useful
ness. The cost of such treatment is
from one to two cents per post and
will add from two to five years To its
life
The Dipping Method. This is
more effective than the brush method
and is somewhat more expensive. In
applying this method tight barrels or
tanks are necessary in which sufficient
creosote' is placed to immerse from
one to two hours the butt ends OF the
posts. This treatment like the first,
should be made to cover from four to
six inches of that part of the post ex-
posed at the surface of the ground as
well as the part below the surface.
his method more completely fills the
checks and knots, uses more of the
preservative, and will add from three
to six years to the life of the post. 1t
is more effective on soft porous woods
than on hard close grain woods and
costs from two to four cents a post.
The Tank Method This is the
most expensive but is by far the most
effective. At least one metal tank is
necessary under which a fire may be
built for the purpose Of heating the
to about ZIP degrees Fair.
If steam is available wooden tank
may be used An additional tank or
barrel for cold creosote is also indis-
oensible
In applying this treatment the creo-
'ote is placed in both tanks in sutici-
INT quantity to inmerse the posts as
n the dipping process. The contents
II one tank is then heated to 212 de-
5rees Fahrenheit. The posts are
placed on end in this and allowed to
-emain until thoroughly hot. This re-
lu1res from thirty to sixty minutes.
The water in the lower end of the post
S transformed into steam and much
II II escapes driving the air out of
ne cells at the same time The hot
reosote permeates the wood to a con-
iderable depth during this process.
Then the post is taken out of the hot
ath and quickly plunged into the
old bath This condenses the steam
nd tends to form a vacuum in the
ellis and air spaces in the submerged
art of the post Atmospheric pres
ure at once forces the creosoteS into
lese spaces producing a deep and
borough impregnation After the
osts are entirely cool they should be
and allowed to drain by
landing them in a trough where the
xcess creosote may be recovered
his process costs from FIVE to eight
ents per post and more than doubles
lie life of the post made from all the
otter and more porous woods. Fosts
ON the common cottonwood, quak-
g asp, Lombardy poplar, balm of
Head, or white fir will, if treated by
lis method, last as long as the best
1treated hardwood post.
Fle hardwoods do not absorb SO
UGH creosote as the softer woods but
e nevertheless much more resistant
decay after treatment than before.
Creosote can be purchased in guam
y from any large paint and oil com
my and the expense for tanks, bar
Is, or watts is not prohibitive Where
any posts are to be used this is soon
fset by the great saving in labor,
ne and material made possible by the
e of the process. Every farm should