The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1854-07-22

formed: and Shtnthis new wood Is In the
state of a thick paste OF cement, then is the
time that tie bud will adhere most perfectly.
This is tic period when the bark may be
peeled from tree without destroying its Vi
tality. And this is the time for cutting tim
4b,r. Early IN spring, the tree is full of sap,
which is little else than pure water, ard
which has been gradually accommodating
through winter by the absorption ofthe root,
with no outlet for its escape rs there Is in
Summer through myriads of leaves. While
The tree is thus rcplcte with water tits in the
worst condition to be cut. Tut towards mid
summer, when a portion of this water has
passed. of through the leaves and the rest
has been much thickencd by conversion into
material for wood, the case is very different:
for while the watcry sap promotes only de-
cay, the thickencd juices soon dry and hard
tn, and assist in the preservation of the wood.
We have recently been furnished with
number Of facts, in confederation of this opin-
ion, by Isaac Hathaway, of Pennington,
Ontario county, n. Y, an old an cntcrprising
settler, close and extensive observer, and
whotias had much experience in connexion
with awinills and timber crcctions. All his
observations tend to show the great differ
ci,ce between winter and summer cut timber,
and induce him to think that, cut at the best
period, it will last under the average of cir
cumstanccs three times as long as when fill
ed i'll winter. In one instance. Il fence, con-
sisting of winter cut materials, part split
into rails, and n portion in round poles, Of
beech, maple, iron-wood, bass wood, &c.,
had completely dvcaytd in fifteen years, and
none of it was even fit for iircwood. man
other case, quantity Of bass wood rails were
cut in summer, and spit from the brown or
heart portion Of the tree This was done a.
bout fifty years ago; thirty years afterwards
tac fence was quite sound, and even now some
Of the rails remain undccayed. although much
worn away by the weather. Winter saw
logs, left over one summer at the MILL are
usually much decayed for stv nal inches to
wards the interior; sunlmcr-cut logs, which
have lain like period, are always sound.
lie has cut hickory for axc-hclvcs; ifdone in
winter, decay soon commences, and the worm
loves this wood, often wholly destroys its
value. Summcr-cut, he has never known it
to be attacked by the insect and indeed ii
seems too hard for them to penetrate. lie
has had occasion to examine several old
frames of buildings, and in every instance
whore the period Of cutting could be deter
mined, the same striking difference in dura
bilty was conspicuous.
lie rela cd several experiments on the du
liability of posts, ora Of whiu, is worthy Of
repetition. lna'gravcllv soil. where the wa
Ter never remains stone bottom a few inches
thick was laid in the post hole, on which the
post was set, and was then surrounded with
stone closely rammed in on every side. Asa
enough in contact with the post to soak its
interior, as would be the case if damp earth
passes its outer surface. Such posts conse
qucntly give promise of remaining sound, at
ter some years trial, atlcast twice the period
Of those simply packed in earth. lie also
finds that posts of what is termed the white
cedar in western New York (thc American
arbor-vite) last much longer when set green
with the bark on. than if sawed and seasoned,
which he attributes to the protection afforded
by the durable bark, against the vicisstudcs
of rain and drouth, and the air and weather
generally.
Now that tie season is approaching, best
adapted for timbcr-cutting, as indicated in
cstcd will at least satisfy themselves on the
subject by a fair and careful trial.