CHEMICALISED BIRCH.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 771, 21 March 1910, Page 8

CHEMICALISED BIRCH.

GOVERNMENT PLACE AN ORDER. There appears to be a strong probability that chemically-treated; New. Zealand birch will be largely used in the Dominion in preference to the hardwood timbere such as jarrah and karri. An experiment ' has just been conducted . by Professor D. IV Mackenzie, F.5.L.,. of Moreton Hall;. Libertop, Scotland,.- cn sections-of' Powellised birch, and also on "untreated" sections of the English

"untreated" sections of the Epglish branch of the Powell Wood Company. Both sections were ■ placed_ in active contact with the dry rot fungus (merulius lacrymons) for something over a year, with the result that while, the treated portions were found to be quite sound right' through after the ordeal, the un-' treated sections were, found to be entirely decayed. The outcome of this is that'the life of, birch timber. for railway, sleepers may be prolonged for fully twenty-five years, and following Professor Mackenzie's experiment and statement, the Now Zealand - Government has placed an or-' der with the 'Powell Wood" Company, Rangataua, for 10,000 birßh sleepers; which will probably be used on portions of the Stratford-Ongarue railway line, near Whangamomona. The' fact that New Zealand birch chemically treated can be transformed into serviceable usefulness for such a lengthy period as a quarter of a century for and also for bridge purposes; is very important.

There are at present large areas of birch in different portions of the Dominion, which are regarded as waste, and only fit to be bnrnt. They will now become a -valuable asset to property owners. As railway sleepers they should be unsurpassed. They are hard and heavy, weighing 120 pounds, against the 40pound silver pine sleepers on the Main Trunk line, which axe being found far too soft for the heavy traffic which daily thunders over them.