This paper presents the outline of an argument, based on both new and established data, which relates varying lignin content to variation of soft-rot susceptibility between hardwood species and of performance of CCA preservatives in controlling soft-rot. Although more data need to be generated to prove this relationship, sufficient evidence exists for the hypothesis to be given close attention, particularly as it may provide the link between previous and apparently conflicting theories which attempted to explain the disparate performance of CCA in hardwoods. There are some difficulties in presenting the argument in logical sequence at this stage, so the approach taken has to follow the sequence of events which led to the present conclusions. The paper should therefore be considered as a preliminary draft which may be subject to modification especially as it does not follow a conventional format.

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