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

DIR. Mitchell speaks of the months OF July
and August, when the trees are in foliage,
and the juices circulating freely, as the
proper season for cutting timber In de
cided opposition to this opinion we have
received the following extracts from re-
port on the subject Of telling timber made
to the Bureau OF Construction, Equipment
and Repairs of the United States Navy
Department, by Mr.. JAMES JARVIS, of
the navy yard at Gosport. As Mr.. Jarvis
speaks on this subject with the experience
of more than thirty years, they are entitled
to great consideration.
[copY.l
u. S. NAVY YARD, GosPoRT,)
October 80, lS47.
SIN Agreeably TO your directions, and in con
formty with a letter from the Chief of the Bureau
of Construction, Equipment, and Repairs, submit,
for the consideration of that department, the fol-
lowing remarks with regard to the telling of tim
Der.
have, heretofore, made efforts to invite attention
to this subject; and i am pleased and fattered that
a report, recently made by me, has been noticed,
and that what ! may here say will be duly consid-
cred and appreciated.
Having, for the last thirty years, been the in
spector and of timber for this yard, with
the privilege during ten years of that period, of in
specting it in the forests where it cut it
be doubted that have often reflected as to the pro-
per time of telling it, with view TO its preserva
ton and durability; and that have made many
scrutinizng observations on the subject. And
although have frequently consulted theories with
the view of applying the tests of experience,
make no pretensons, and lay claims to the
learning of the naturalist. My object, in this re-
port, is to confne my remarks to the great staple
of timbers used in navy--viz: live oak, white
oak, and yellow pine and to reach my conclusion
through the medium of frequent observations and
practical knowledge.
My experience teaches that the best time to
fell timber, in this climate, Virginia, between
the periods of the autumnal and vernal equinoxes;
commencing about the 10th Of October and ceasng
about the LIST of March. Regarding Virginia as
central to the States of Atlantic border, sup
pose that those States north Of her might commence
little earlier while those south of her should COM
mence little later; but in no part of the country
should it be commenced before the LIST of October,
or continued beyond the LIST of March. And here
would remark, that the time of telling timber is not
all that is necessary to be considered in view of its
durability As soon as the trees are cut down,
they should be hewn to square, or to such other
form as the contract might require, TO
all the bark; for, however we may have regard to
the circulation of the sap before the is taken from
the stump, it must be remembered that the circu-
aton does not entirely when the tree is elled
and if, is confidently asserted by Psychologists,
it is difficult to tell at what moment life becomes
extinct in the animal subject, it is much more diff
cult to know at what time il ceases in the vegetable
subject.
The sap still continues to flow and imperfectly
10 perform its functions between the bark and body
of the tree, after it is taken by violent hands from
the spot where it Graded, and, by slow pro-
cess of decomposition, becomes the true source of
injurious effects to the timber.
The bark must be removed, or this process must
and will commence and continue its destructive
course. All the theories that have read upon this
subject agree as to the fact, though not to the
time that the bark should be removed; and can
safely say by practical observation that their truth
is confirmed. Notwithstanding this,@ haze neper
seen a contract framed TO make ii imperative to
haze the timber he,cn tphen cut, TO this
great source Of injury.
Many of the officers of navy have doubtless
witnessed, in the Mediterranean service, perhaps
q
evils together with the cause above stated. They
have seen the destruction of barrels slowed with
hoops Embarked, and spruce spars, in the same
condition, destroyed by the worm, which had its
origin between the bark and timber. Here our
practice is TO keep all spruce spars with the bark
on under water, they would be an easy prey to
the worm.
Dr. Walker, who was formerly professor of nat
ural history in the University of Edinburgh, found
that the sap of the assembled through the wood
but still more copiousy between the wood and bark.
celebrated naturalist says that a tree will
grow in an inverted situation, the root being
placed upwards and the top downwards and buried
in the ground for then the branches will become
roots and the roots will bear leaves;' and this il
true But, strip the bark from the same tree, and
the circulation of the sap its luxurant TO
liage perishes, and although under meridian sun,
no leaves or flowers will be produced.
The views presented by Mr. Tredgold (and he
wrote copiously on this subject) worthy of in
sertion here He says, " the best period for telling
timber il undoubtedly that in which il IL most free
from extraneeus vegetable matter, or such matter
AZ il intended TO be expended in leaves and buds,
and which If in a more fluid state, and Of a more
saccharine and fermentable nature than the proper
Juices, or such as form the wood" and he adds
" that the best Tor that II Hnd-Wlntcr OF nu-suil
mer, as at these times the vegetable powers al
rest or have expended all the most changeabe part
in producing leaves, &c. The bark" he says
is too valuable be lost and the best period for
,he timber is the ,cors for The bark, an ingenious
method has been long practised, which not only SC
cures the best season, but improves the timber
This method consists in taking the bark off the
standing tree early in the spring, and not telling il
until after the foliage has put forth and died
Mr. Button says, he has ascertained by expert
ment that the wood is materially improved by the
method Of barking" Tredgold gives the key q
his real opinion, In his concluding remarks. II
must be remembered that he wrote in England
when bark was exceedingly valuable, and il Is
sometimes difficult for his readers to determine
whether he WINS most in favor of saving the bark
or preserving the timber.
But he speaks for himself in the end, by saying
'when the bark Of the tree is not sufficient 10 pay
the expense Of stripping, IL should be felled during
the months Of December, January, and February
And in this he with Knowles, who preferred