This does not respond to your conservation question, but there are other
things to consider with tree saplings inside a museum. More years ago than I
care to count, when I was an anthro student, I created a California native
wikiup inside a museum, using local willow saplings, tule reed mats, and
twisted tule fibre rope to tie the sapling frame cross-pieces and tie the
mats to the frame.  This was strictly a low budget adventure, including
canoeing (modern canoe, not a tule reed raft) among the tule reeds to cut
and load tules for the mats. I was not a museology student yet, so was
oblivious to the bug realities, and had a lot of fun preparing this.
However, when the museum closed for the holidays the heat was left on, and
when I returned in January the wikiup lay on the floor like so much
kindling. The willow poles and the reeds shrank as they dried, and
everything slipped out of the ties. I cringe to think what was scurrying
around looking for food as the juicy willows became desiccated! I had dried
the reeds outside before making the mats, but the cool outdoor temperature
helped to preserve them, not dry them. Really, I've learned a LOT since
then!

Micki Ryan
Museum & Archival Services



-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
Behalf Of Dirk Van Tuerenhout
Sent: Thursday, December 01, 2005 12:22 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: And now for something completely different: tree saplings
inside museums


We are currently working on a touch cart that would serve our Hall of
the Americas. One of the areas we cover in this hall is the Southeast
and the design of this touch cart would include a 4 foot replica of a
Caddo "beehive style" house. For this we are considering using tree
saplings to be bent into the right shape.

My question is: how does one treat the wood to prevent any insect
infestation?  I would prefer to stay away from using chemicals for
obvious reasons. Any thoughts?

Many thanks and best wishes,

Dirk Van Tuerenhout
Houston Museum of Natural Science

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