Aspen is one of our least durable woods and is known to deteriorate or rot rapidly under conditions favoring decay. Records on aspen used under moist and severe decay conditions have shown that serious decay and failure of the product may develop in three to four years. Some present and potential uses for aspen involving conditions favorable to decay and in which this lack of natural durability is a factor are: (1) fence posts, (2) railroad cross ties, (3) mine timbers, (4) planking for secondary bridges, (5) sills and other construction members in buildings, (6) the lower logs of log cabins, and (7) small items as pickets, stakes, etc
