A Chapter On Nails

Evcry farmer pho has liad occasion to drive a nail into eeasoned oak posts knowB it 3 liabilify to bend and break. If the point be moistened in the ïuouth it will usuully drivo moro kindly. Oil is Btill better, but then t is inconveuicnt to dip each nail separatoly into it. Ahothor poiut observcd is that bonrds be come looee cventually from tl)9 rusting of the nails, which, communicatiog to the wood, causes not ouly an cnhtrgomcüt of the nail holo, but tho wearing sway of the nuil itsclf, reoderiog tbe fence or building shaky and ineeeure. This may be prevented by hcaling any rough greaso until it smokes, and then pouring it over the nails to bo usecl. Tbe groase wiil penétrate the pores of thó iron, and causo the oails to last, without rusting, an iudefiuile period. Besides this, uo trouble will thon be experienocd io rlriving them i rito the hard est wood. The reason is that tho coatiag of greaso ireveiits contact by air, and coijsequcntly uxidation. Oxyijeii is the great destróyer of iron, and moisture is the inducing cause. Anything which is kept from contact with the air is preserved indefnütely, uid if it is kept dry the effect is mcasurably the same. Paint upon buildings prevenís the contact of air and inoisture If the whole fenco or building cannot be painted, tho heads, at least, of tbo nailsshould be touched therewith. i