As soon as possible the bark should be removed, as it holds the water and insects, and encourages the growth of a white fungus which is the precursor of dry rot.
The St. Petersburg poles are the most generally used for scaffolding. They are weaker than the Christiania poles, breaking shorter under cross strains, are whiter in colour, have a smoother bark, are straighter in grain, and therefore make better ladder sides.
Christiania poles are more yellow in colour, and break longer under a cross strain than other poles. They are only to be obtained early in the year, and are soon bought up when on the market.
To test a pole remove the bark, then prise across the grain with a penknife. If the fibres break up short and brown, the pole is decayed and useless.
To test a pole for any local weakness lift one end, leaving the other on the ground. Two or three sharp jerks will cause undue bending at any spot that may be seriously defective.
Balk timbers ring, if in a sound condition, when struck with a hammer. A fresh-cut surface should be firm, shining, and somewhat translucent. A dull, chalky, or woolly appearance is a sign of bad timber.
Poles, unlike most converted timbers, are not branded. Those known as prime should certainly be used for scaffolding purposes. The brack are rough and irregular in growth.
Balk timbers and smaller scantlings are, in the finest qualities, branded, the different countries from which they are exported being Russia, Norway and Sweden.
Russian woods are generally hammer branded, no colour being used.
Norwegian woods are marked a blue colour, and Swedish wood a red colour.