The Delaware register, or, Farmers', manufacturers' & mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1828-1829, 1829-08-22

L
the eggs will not come to life, without the noss
| ment of the sap of timber.
Of all the timber we have, Ash and Hickory are tbo
most subject to be eat by worms. But if Hickory h
cut in May, and the bark stripped off it will moi bo
eaten by the worms and will last much LONGER # az,
posed to the weather. Hickory poles cut in winter
will be eaten in summer, but if cut in the spring and
the bark taken off, they will last or 10 wears in
fence and will not be eaten by the worm until thew
begin to decay. The same rule holds good with ash
timber; whether it is cut in winter or summer anJ
the bark instantly taken off, it will not be eaten bv
the worms.
Hence, | lay it down as general rule that al
kinds of timber, that have astringent sap sbmIJ
be cut when the sap flows fullest, which is in the
month of May, in our climate, with small variation
in the season. which, however, can be easily ascertain
ed by the putting forth of the leaves of the several
kinds of trees, some vegetate earlier than Others
and that all such trees keep green all the winter
and are termed eVergreens should be cut in Decem.
Der and January.
Why some timber should rot so soon, and Others
endure when exposed to the weather, is problem
not easily solved; it appears not to depend on the
porousness or density of the wood, for Sugarree and
Black-gum, though very hard and dense, decay, very
soon, as well as Beech, and many other kinds of tim
Der too tedious to mention in communication OF this
kind. Black Locust, Mulberry, Chestnut, &c. are the
most open and porous kinds we have, and no timber
is more durable when exposed to the weather. nor
does II depend on the hardness soness of the wood,
for Cypress Cedar, and Yellow poplar very soft,
and indeed the softest have, and the most du
rable and impervious to the weather Whence then
are we to look for the of kind rOtting so
soon and another lasting so long presume it must
depend on the oil contained in the wood. Cedar,
which is known to be lasting, contains oil in abund-
ance; also Locust. Chestnut, &c. The pine in all its
varieties, contains great quantities of pitch, rosn, NC
and IFS sap is composed of Turpentne spirit, &c. yet
there is wood that lasts longer when exposed than
some of the varieties of the pine, nor. when it grows
to perfection, useful kind of wood for build
ing and various other uses. Lgnum VITAE contains
more oil than any other wood and is almost ncorrupt
ble. Hence its name when translated is rood Of 4te
and it is never eaten of worms. Mahogany is lasting
md durable, shrnks and swells less than any other
wood known, therefore is best for furniture, &c
where great strength is not necessary.
But often all kinds of timber are subject to be eat
IN by worms and let ask what it is, that worms ID
ome shape or other, do not eat q?
They not only eat our TIMBER but they eat our corn
md wheat, and flour, and bacon, and cheese, and IN
Iced, almost every thing that we possess unless 1t he
'ur limestone rocks, and the Solar Microscope has
hown, that rock is full of reptiles. And those
predatory multitudes seem to spare nothing on the
'lobe, for they sometimes eat while living and are
ure to devour US when dead.