The Farmer.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 252, 20 September 1884, Page 5 (Supplement)

The Farmer.

Preserving Wood, i - Thb agricultural editor of the New York Times says that the best preservative of shingles or any other kind of timber is borne oil that soaks into the pores and protects tbem against moisture and air. Crude petroT lenm is the best preservative, because it is quioklj absorbed. iind-| penetrates into' the wood* contains a strongly; antiseptic acid — . r yiz;, jtjjjjrbqlie acid— and is. free from all inju- ' ridus. and destructive 'substances. The i shingles should be dipped m the oil and into an empty battel or tub to drain and dry, and it is better to do this on a warm ;. da^ when the. sun's heat will render the oil -fluid. Gas tar (coal tar) r contains an injurious acid, and is a damage rather than a help ; but if it is made hot, and a peck of .j.UwJa .added to a-barrel of it to neutralise 'we' 'add, it -makes a good preservative for v tixtiber. Lime is useful when used m the following manner:— lt & Blaked with enough water to reduce it to a thick liquid, and the shingles, or other timber are put into it while it is hot; the heat expands the air m j the pores of the' timber and' drives it out, also )( jivaporiseß the moisture ; as the lime cools it -„ penetrates into these empty pores, neutralises the acids of the timber, and coagulates the albumen of it, and forms insoluble compounds with them, by which the timber is , made more durable. Fence posts ii;-..l shingles are best treated m this way by putting them m a pit or tank with the dry "'quick-lime mixed among them, the water is then added to slake the lime, and the whole ■ m left for two or three days. Of all these methods that with crude petroleum is 'the -best. . ■ •

i ■, In the United. States horse-breeding is qon- ; ducted on a very extensive soale. The Coleradp Percheron Horse Company have : on iheir ranch no fewer than 3,000 mares. Mr. ■Witter,; the manager, has recently purchased a oar-load of Percheron stallions from the (H establishment of Mr. M. W. Dunham. The, capital stock of the company has (we learn from the Breeders' Gazette) been increased to £200,000', and "the intention is to breed ;5 ..horses on a larger scale than ever before 'attempted, using this season 40 imported stal- '' lions of the very best breeding. j