To Preserve Wood. The following receipts for preserving timber from decay have been obtained from various sources, and are the results of careful experiment by scientific experts.

1678. To Prevent the Splitting of Logs and Planks

1678. To Prevent the Splitting of Logs and Planks. Logs and planks split at the ends because the exposed surface dries faster than the inside. Saturate muriatic acid with lime, and apply like whitewash to the ends. The chloride of calcium formed attracts moisture from the air and prevents the splitting. Tobacconists' signs, and other wooden images, have usually a hole bored through their centre, from top to bottom; this in a great measure prevents the outer surface from cracking, by allowing the wood to dry and shrink more uniformly.

1679. To Preserve Timber from Decay and Dry-Rot

1679.       To Preserve Timber from Decay and Dry-Rot. The best way to preserve timber exposed to the action of the weather is to force into the pores of well-seasoned wood as much carbolic acid, or creosote, as possible. This soon resinifies, and most effectually prevents the timber from dry-rot and decay. On a large scale, as for railway sleepers, expensive appliances are needed; but for barns or outbuildings it may be applied to considerable advantage by the use of a paint brush.

1680. Solution to Preserve Wood

1680.    Solution to Preserve Wood. "With every 25 gallons of water required, mix 5 pounds chloride of zinc. "Wood steeped in this solution will effectually resist dry-rot.

1681. To Kyanize Wood or Cordage

1681.    To Kyanize Wood or Cordage. Immerse the wood or cordage in a solution of 50 or 60 parts water and 1 part corrosive sublimate. This preserves it from decay, and renders wood tough and more difficult to split.

1682. To Preserve and Harden Wood

1682. To Preserve and Harden Wood. Wood steeped in a solution of copperas becomes harder and more indestructible.

1683. German Receipt for Coating Wood with a Substance as Hard as Stone

1683.    German Receipt for Coating Wood with a Substance as Hard as Stone. Melt together 40 parts chalk, 50 resin, and 4 linseed oil; to this should be added 1 part oxide of copper, and afterwards 1 part sulphuric acid. This last ingredient must be added carefully. The mixture, while hot, is applied with a brush, and forms, when dry, a varnish as hard as stone. This is an excellent application to protect posts, tubs, or other wooden articles which are set in the earth.

1684. To Preserve Wood Under Water

1684.    To Preserve Wood Under Water. "Wood impregnated with creosote oil has been found to resist effectually the ravages of the teredo worm; this worm being the cause of decay by honey-combing the entire substance of the wood. In Germany chloride of zinc is used for this purpose, the timber being placed in boilers, partly exhausted of air, and the vapor of chlorine thus driven into it. These remedies are recommended by a committee of practical experts, appointed by the Academy of Sciences in Holland to ascertain the best means for preserving timber under water.

1685. Preservation of Wood

1685.     Preservation of Wood. Ar-mand Muller has instituted some interesting experiments upon this subject, and arrives at the conclusion that the phosphate of baryta, formed by the mutual decomposition of phosphate of soda and chloride of barium, in the pores of the wood, is one of the best preservative agents available to chemists. Soak the wood 5 days in a 7 per cent, solution of phosphate of soda, and after drying, suspend in a 13 per cent solution of chloride of barium for 7 days. It is believed that wood thus prepared will withstand the action of moisture better than with any other preparation. The chief obstacle to the use of such chemicals is in their cost.

1686. To Petrify Wooden Objects

1686.    To Petrify Wooden Objects. Take equal quantities of gem-salt, rock-alum, white vinegar, chalk and pebbles, powdered. Mix all these ingredients; ebullition will ensue. After it has ceased, throw some wooden objects into this liquid, and let them soak for 4 or 5 days, at the end of which time they will be transformed into petrifactions.