I tried a method detailed by an old timer (imagine me calling someone an old timer!) to protect the original wood beds in his day. Linseed oil in the following routine, one a day for a week, once a week for a month, once a month for a year and once a year after that.
The original beds were of "hard pine" treated witha mixture of lampblack and linseed oil. The dark color helps to prevent damage from ultra-violet rays.
The bed in my 55 is orogonal, with some slight cracking (was stored unused for 22 years). I used the above treatment and it looks good for 50 years old.
