The article was titled "A linseed Oil Debate". The arguments against it we're: unpredictable drying time, black yuk forms on wood surfaces, oiling old dried out wood before varnishing has no merits and being a derivative of flax seed it provides a food source for decay fungi. The response from Dr. Richard Jagels, professor of forest biology at the university of Maine and the primary contributor to Wood Technology in WoodenBoat states, "As a linseed oil is applied to dry wood, it fills the voids in the wood fibers , acting as a surrogate for water, thus improving the toughness of the outer layers of wood fibers, especially for woods such as northern white cedar. " "The procedure that Thurlow uses have stood the test of time and are consistent with good practices based on scientific information. I don't see any reason to abandon the use of linseed oil in canoe restoration."