The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1851-03-05
Number 50.
From the Western Agriculturist.
ON THE BEST TIME FOR CUTTING
TIMBER FOR RAILS. ca

ON THE BEST TINE FOR CUTTING
TIMBER FOK RAILS. Ga
An opinion has long prevailed that the
month of February, was the best time OF
year to cut timber, that it cut at this time
it would endure longer. This almost Uni.
versal belief, partly founded on experiences
has truth for its foundation, for almost
every observant person has noticed the
different durability of the same kinds Of
timber exposed under apparently the same
circumstances. Now by the aid of Sci
ence we can give satisfactory explana-
ton OF this fact, and think point out not
only the best, but also the worst time for
cutting timber. All the wood of the tree
is filled with little ducts or vessels through
which the fluids have circulated, but this
circulation is not active in the sap wood OF
Alburnum, and the ducts in the centre or
older part of the tree, by age become
thickened or entirely filled up by internal
deposites or infiltration Of mineral matters
introduced with the sap, and at last cease
to convey sap altogether; or TO take any
part in the vital action of the tree; that
this is true we know from the fact that the
heart wood frequently perishes or decays.
leaving the trunk hollow without affecting
the vigor or life of the tree. The older
and solidifed heart wood is well known to
be the most valuable for timber. All vegs-
tation in this climate has periods Of activ-
ity and repose. Winter is the period Of
repose, and during which the juices Of the
tree are found in greatest abundance al the
roots. With the increasing heat Of spring.
the sap is set in motion and rises until the
first development of the leaves, when it is
elaborated and altered by those importani
organs; the course of the current is then
reversed and the sap descends towards
midsummer, charged with the material for
the formation of new wood which is annu-
ally deposited in layers upon the outside
of the tree under the bark. Vegetable
juices are peculiarly prone to run into rapid
fermentation and putrefaction. Pu,refac-
ton is nothing but species of fermenta-
ton, and it is property which fermsnt
possesses, to impart its own liability Of
putrefacton and decay TO most bodies
with which it comes in contact. Hence,
if wood is cut while full of sap, it decays
more readily, so that it follows that the
best time to cut timer for durability, is that
period when the tree is in the state of tho
most profound repose which is generally
in mid winter. Seasoning timber whether
by steam, air, of fire. heat renders it moro
durable, and has for its object the expul.,
sion or drying up Of the juices so liable to
fermentation and decay. ought perhaps
to state here, that white Hickory, which If
cut in the Spring and left with the bark on,
very soon decays, if stripped of its bark
as soon as cut, and split into rails, is found
to be almost, if not quite asydurable as
other timber. But this believe is &C.
counted for by the rapid seasoning it un-
dergoes when thus prepared, and no doubt.
all timber intended for rails would be ben
Gifted by having the bark taken off. Ryan.
izing timber, or the process which injects
or fills the vessels Of wood with certain
mineral salts, such as corrosive sublimate.
sulphate of iron, and sulphate Of copper.
land which form insoluble compounds with
the juces) have the same object in view.
mainly to get rid of vegetable juice But
as these processes are too expensive, we
must content ourselves with cutting our
timber when it is least charged with sap,
Permit me TO relate circumstance bear
ing upon this point which came under my
own observation. Eighteen years ago,
intending to fence my ground. | procured
quantity OF posts aud boards sawed from
timber cut during the winter. In the month
OF April when began to make my fence,
| found had not posts enough. Invent to
the mill and ordered more They were
sawed out of log just cut and brought to
the mill. They were set with the others
and after the lapse Of eight years, many
of these were so decayed at the ground,
that it was necessary to remove them-the
others sawed out Of the winter cut logs
still remain comparatively sound and ap-
pear yet capable of many years service.
As the charring or burning the ends Of
posts intended to be set in the ground, is
thought TO preserve them, may it not b
owing in part at least to the partial sea-
soning or coagulation Of the juice by the
action Of irel FRANKLIN.
ga yonn1 Iadv of NV acnua;ntenca ~