Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1821-11-20
w'AsNIH Zoe, IuLy 5i. l82l.

WAsHifUFoSs 1uiiX 81 lS2i
Dear Sri have received our favor
+ OF Yesterday, asking ne. as pember OF
Abe Agricultural Soeieiy Of Maryland, a
communication for your Jpusn on tie
proper season for fel.iag Tlalber, via a
view to its durability'-and / shall TAKE
pleasure in complying win yoar wishes,
as far and as well as my sifieial duties
will permit. and my observation enab,e
me. The one, wiz necessarily reqIife
me to be brief; the oiher, | fear is 10 H.
mited to add much 10 the mass Of iaior
NATION which is embodied in the Far
mer.
1t will readily occur to you. that the
life OF man is Insufficient 10 determine,
from actual experiment, the question
propounded; and the shore period thai
my attention has been direcyei 70 aS,si-
culture, or 10 any subjects, contested
with its objects, could not admit Of any
reasonable conclusions founded on ex-
perinenls, had they been made, which
has not been the case 20 any extent, 1
am compelled, therefore, TO reason trop
analogy, TO resort 10 facts, haeing thois
origin at much earlier date, and 10
avail myself Of the knowledge and ex-
perience Of others, in support oil my
opinion---which is, thar /" the mos, pro-
per season for telling timber, vita a view
TO its durability, is in the wio.er wGca
the sap has ceased TO Circulate and ta4l
the extent of this season is regulated b
the climate, when he timber is 10 be
cut. ~ $50 t
A Tree may be said 10 arrive at naiu-
rity every season. In ths sprias, ,l,s
process oil vegetation commences and
in tire winter, ii Is al n.atu.s.y and as s
ing for the uses OF man, as regards It's
durability, as ii can ever.be. During
state Of rapid vegetation, II parAakessoi
the perishable nature Of ali otner plants;
and its decay is more or less rapid II,
proportion to the sap which II rnay re-
tain. Thus, willow, poplar, OF maple
trees are not found to be as durable as
locust, cedar, OF liye oak; thlse3bsing
as remarkable for the quantity OF ne sap
contained IN them, as these are tor tlieiFs
dryness. Trees OF rapid growth being
very porous and almost universally sur
charged with sap, decay raplay, whilo.
those Of slow growth and close texture
arc found to be very durable. Tie first,
no one thinks OF using for any purpose
requiring durability; while the praper-
ties are known and appreciated by aii;7
their value seems to be proportioned 10
the greater or less degree OF tnoisture
which they naturally retain. II them
universal experience informs US That sap
is destructive Of, and dryness tavorseieiI
to durability it follows, that the winSerl
season must DE the most proper time .o3
cut timber IS with avicw OF its dnrablli-I
ty," as ii will not be denied that ali trees
are at mat period more devold iot sap,
than when in a state ofrapid vegetation.
Whether the sap deccnd to the root, or.
60 toward the formation fof the tsce, is
Of lutte consequence to US; ii is subj
cient that the moisture is disposed 81,
and that the tree is at maturity.
The sap IS in most cases OF very
acid nature, nourishing to the tree while
this is in health, but destructive 10 he
fibre Of the wood when IN state ter
mentation. In the winter season tins ter
mentation, as well from Temperature, as
from the diminshed4q quantity OF the sap,
does not take place. In the summer
season it is FASTENED BY the intensity OF
the heat and its effects are preparedness
to the quantity Of sap !; thus, a cabbage
will rot sooner in summer than In winter,
and this remark will apply, tits believed
With equal force to all other vegetables,
from a live oak to an asparagus shoot.
That the sap rises liz the spring, no
/ one can doubt: and that it rises by the
wood vessels, and descends by the bark,
has been sufficiently proved by various
experiments made to ascertain these
facts. What new changes il undergoes,
in the course Of its circulation, AIN not
aware Of, but par. is undoubtedly sub
tracted TO for the wood; and the thinner
and more perishable parts are carried
back by the bark, to return with fresh
, supply Of nourishment TO the tree;
through al the veins and arteries, OF
q which it is destined 10 move like the
blood in the human body, giving to it
health, and strength, and growth. aq
. During the summer, while in rapid
Srcslatiop, unnecessarily follows that the,