The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-09-05


states that as long ago as 1868 royal ordinance in
France limited the telling Of naval timber between
the first of October and fifteenth of March, in order
to make it more durable. Bonaparte directed that
the time should be abridged TO the first of Novem-
Der and fifteenth of March. With the latter would
agree at once, as general rule--adding, that as
soon as the trees felled, they shall be put into
forms required for the navy to exclude the
bark not fibre of which should be left on the tim
Der.
The middle OF December being about equidistant
from the autumnal and vernal equnoxes, is the pc
rod when the tree is most free from vegetable mat
ter; and as large quantity of timber cannot be
felled at any given point of time not even in a
month, we must approximate near to that point
as we can, never forgetting the bark know that
winter feed timber superior to that cut either in
spring or summer | have noticed that cut in the
latter season (sunmer) and brought to this yard.
II would be here but few days before could dis
cover concretions, such mould, black -sap wood,
mildew, and after a while large fungus, and other
signs of decay
Saw stocks open, of this description into plank,
and, if of white oak, the inside is heated and has
reddish, sickly appearance. 1t is fevered, and
unfit for the navy. If the timber be pine, with the
exception of the fungus mildew On the sap wood
part the stock will look very well; but it into
plank, and spots or specks may be soft that
they may be picked out with the finger. In both
cases the "dry rOt' has commenced, 80 that, with
or without the bark the spring and summer feed
timber is doomed to tit may not be sudden but
comparatively speaking) decay. 1t is curtailed OF
| its durability.
! have also to note that parcel of cypress posts
which were felled last winter and brought to this
| L. L. Il. - n -
within three feet of the but-end, gave evident signs
of life during the sprng-a life, however, which in
dictates premature decay; they were planted three
feet in the earth columns to support temporary
timber shed at the south of the yard and soon sent
There is evidently intimate connexion between
heat and the ascent of the sap, but it is equally evil
dent that the bark is necessary to the continuous
circulation of this juice heat, and that without
the sap, with its injurious effects, to flow
beg leave to report, however, that my conclusions
upon this subject the result of observation and
experience. Theory may err, systems of reasoning
may deceive but long, close, and scrutinizing OBJ
servations, with the tests of practical experiments
can neither err nor prove deceptive. These tell me
with voice too potent to pass unheeded, that
ter is the time for telling, and that when the tree is
torn from its birth place to be converted to the
of timber it must be deprived of its lingering vege-
table life. Its juices must no longer be permitted
to circulate II must be disrobed of its outer mat
ter, that it may the better endure the new form and
condition to which it is to be appropriated by the
hand of man.
Ibeg leave to call the attention of the bureau
to another subject The exports of timber, together
with the quantity consumed in the United States
for ship building, have materially diminished the
forests on the board. The Government has yet
to commence the cultivation of the white oak.
Something has been done, believe, towards this
great object in the cultivation of the live oak.
am satisfied that the time is not far distant when
the importance of cultivating, not only the live
oak, but such other forest trees may be necessary
for the of the navy, will be too papable to be
overlooked. White oak, locust, and cedar-all OF
which are important in ship buding-are fast dis
appearing from our Atlantic border, getting at
a considerable distance from the ocean 1t is said
by author, 'individuals will not plant forests
for future gain. Private capital in country is
yet limited and the demand upon it too urgent for
profits so distant Individual enterprise seeks such
an investment of money and labor as will bring a
speedy return of profit or reward"
Lands could now be purchased by the Govern
ment, in Virginia and Maryland, at very low
rate; and the white oak of these States is of the
very best quality-as good can be produced from
lands that lying waste grew
Timber plantations are preferable in those States
whose shores washed by the salt water. The
timber growing in the region of salt water is, il
my opinion far superior to the porous and brittle
oak of the western lands, such as is obtained OF
the borders of Lake Erie and other lakes and fresh
water rivers in Virginia and other States. Tn,
experience of England urges upon our Govern
ment the importance of giving early attention Il
this subject