Position Of Wood And Its Durability

The problem has troubled many why two pieces of wood, sa wed f roni the same section of a tree, should possess very varied characteristics when used in different positions. For example, a gatepost will be found to decay much faster if the butt end of the tree is uppermost than would be tile case if the top were placed in this position. The reason is that the moisture of the atinosphere wül peripeate the pores of the wood much more rapidly the way the tree grew than it would if in the opposite direction. Microscopical examination proves that the pores invite the ascent of moisture, while they repel its descent. Take the familiar case of a wooden bucket. Many may have noticed that some of the staves appear to be entirely saturated, while others are apparently quite drjr. This arises from the same cause - the dry staves are in the position in which the tree grew, while the saturated ones are