Pure woody fiber is said by chemists to be composed of 52.4 parts of
carbon, 41.9 parts of oxygen, and 5.7 parts of hydrogen, and to be the
same in all the different varieties. If it can be entirely deprived of
the sap and of moisture, it undergoes change very slowly, if at all.
Decay originates with the sap. This varies from 35 to 55 per cent. of
the whole, when the tree is felled, and contains a great many
substances, such as albuminous matter, sugar, starch, resin, etc., etc.,
with a large portion of water.
Woody fiber alone will not decay, but when associated with the sap,
fermentation takes place in the latter (with such energy as may depend
upon its constituent elements), which acts upon the woody fiber, and
produces decay. In order that this may take place, it is believed that
there must be a concurrence of four separate conditions:
1st. The wood must contain the elements or germs of fermentation when
exposed to air and water.
2d. There must be water or moisture to promote the fermentation.
3d. There must be air present to oxidize the resulting products.
4th. The temperature must be approximately between 50° and 100° F. Below
32° F. and above 150° F., no decay occurs.
When, therefore, wood is exposed to the weather (air, moisture, and
ordinary temperatures), fermentation and decay will take place, unless
the germs can be removed or rendered inoperative.
Experience has proved that the coagulation of the sap retards, but does
not prevent, the decay of wood permanently.[1] It is therefore necessary
to poison the germs of decay which may exist, or may subsequently enter
the wood, or to prevent their intrusion, and this is the office
performed by the various antiseptics.
[Footnote 1: Angus Smith, 1869, "Disinfectants." S.B. Boulton, 1884,
Institution Civil Engineers, "On the Antiseptic Treatment of Timber."]
We need not here discuss the mooted question between chemists, whether
fermentation and decay result from slow combustion (eremacausis) or from
the presence of living organisms (bacteria, etc.); but having in the
preceding pages detailed the results of the application of various
antiseptics, we may now indicate under what circumstances they can
economically be applied.
_(To be continued)_.
* * * * *