The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1868-03-13
farmers department.
r lime for ceiling Timber,

r lime for ceiling Timber.
THE RE 10 an opinion generally enter
tained that timber should be felled only
iu ring the decline of the moon; for If
1t be cut down during Its increase, 1t
will not be of good or a durable quail
ity. This impression prevails in vari-
Gus countries. 1t is acted upon in
England, and is made the ground of
legislation In France. The forest laws,
Of the latter country interdict the cut
ting Of timber during the increase of
the moon. M. Auguste de Saint Hill
aire states, that he found the same
opinion prevalent in Brazil. Signor
Francisco Pinto, an cmineat agricul-
turist in the province Of Espirito Santo,
assured him as the result of his expert
ence, that the wood which was not
felled at the full of the moon was inn
mediately attacked by worms and very
soon rotted.
In the extensive forests of Germany,
the same opinion is entertained and
acted upon with the most undoubting
conndencei In its truth. Sauer, super
intendent of some ofthese districts, as
signs what he believes to be its physical
cause. According to him the increase
Of the moon causes the sap to ascend in
the timber; and on the other hand,
the decrease of the moon causes its de-
scent. Ifthe timber, therefore, be cut
during the decrease of the moon it will
be cut in dry state, the sap having
retired and the wood, there ,ore, will
be compact, solid and durable. But if
it be cut during the increase of the
1t, and will therefore be more spongy,
more easily attacked by worms, more
difficult TO season and more readily
split and warped by changes of temper
ature.
Admitting for moment the reality
of this supposition concerning the mo-
tion of the sap, 1t would follow that the
proper time for telling the timber
would be the new moon, that being the
epoch at which the descent of the sap
would have been made, and the ascent
not yet commenced But can there be
imagined in the whole range of natural
science, a physical relation more extra
ordinary and unaccountabe than this
supposed correspondence between the
movement of the sap and the phases of
the moon? Assuredly theory affords
not the slightest countenance to such q
supposition; but let us inquire as to the
fact whether it be really the case that
the quality of timber depends upon the
state of the moon at the time it is
felled.
M. Duhamel Monceau, celebrated
French agriculturst, has made direc,
and positive experiments for the pur.
pose of testing this question; and has
clearly and concluslvely shown that
the qualities of timber fellod in differ.
ent parts of the lunar month are the
same. M. Duhamel felled great many
trees of the same age, growing from the
same soil, and exposed to the same as.
pect, and never found any difference in
the quality of the timber when he ON.
pared those which were felled in the
decline ofthe moon with those which
were felled during its increase, in gen
eral they have afforded timber of the
same quality. He adds however, that
by circumsta &C, which was doubles.
fortuitous, slight difference was man
ifested in favor of timber which had
been felled between the new and full
moon-contrary to popular opinion,
Don't Eat Raw Ham.
THE lesson to be drawn from the re-
cent cases of trichinosis in Springfield
is summed up in just these four words.
While authorities differ in many other
things with regard to this new disease,
all agree that if ham and pork are
Thoroughly cooked there Is no danger
In eating either. Sometimes the disease
has been communicated by eating i'm
perfectly cured "dried beef" but here,
too, all danger disappears when the
beef is well cooked. These and other
facts of especial interest to the medical
profession are admirably set forth in a
communication to the New York Med
icdi Record by DIR. Rustine, of Marion,
Ind, who has treated several cases of
the disease. DR.. Ristine sums up the
case as follows
|. That symptoms indicating the
presence Of young trichn@ in the tis-
sues are observed as early or earlier
than the fourth day after the ingeston
OF the trichinous meat.
.. That cysts are formed as early as
the twenty-fifth day.
3. That, other things being equal, the
severity of the symptoms is in direct
proportion to the amount of trichinous
meat eaten,
4. That an active cathartic given
While the worms are still within the
intestinal canal is eflectUal to certain
degree in causing their expulsion and
mitigating the severity of the disease.
b. That youth affords no immunity
from the effects Of the disease.
8. That sating and smoking do not
destroy the vitality of the parasite
7. Iha1 MOrOUgh cooking dccompIish-
IS this object.
Advantages of Fowl Keeping
Mr.. c. N. BEMENT, in his PO,dterer's
Companion, says; There should be @
poultry yard connected with every
farm established; farm is incomplete
without 1t, and there is no reason why
poultry should not be turned to good
account both for producers and con-
sumers. Indeed, every person that has