The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1872-10-18
When to Cut Timber.


ton. The following on the subject
we find in an exchange, which will
doubtless be read with interest
An examination Of the ends of q
log reveals a series of circles, be-
tween each Of which is a porous
strata Each of these circles is the
growth of a single season, which ex-
tends through q period of six
months In the northern localities.
During this growing season the tree
is supplied with very large quanti-
ty of sap, and every pore becomes
full. Early in the spring the guam
tity is much greater than In the sum
mer and fall months; it is also much |
richer in albumen.
The exact time of the commence
ment OF the flow of sap we cannot
state, bat it is not governed entirely
by the condition of the weather our
experience is that in the latitude of
the Middle States it commences as
soon as February, and often in the
latter part of January. The fact
that the best time for making maple
sugar is during the month of Febru-
airy, when there is a good body of
snow upon the ground, shows that
the flow commences some months
before vegetation starts. As soon
however, as the heat of the sun is
sufficient to start the leaves a
change takes place. and the sap,
which was rich with albumen, be-
comes more watery, and instead of
the flow carrying with it the matter
necessary to form new wood, 1t car
ries nourishment to the deposits a.
ready made, and the albumen, or IL
ner strata, between the bark and the
wood, begins to expand and new
wood is formed.
This process of formation con-
tinues until quite late in the season,
but the power of the roots to feed
the elements for continuous growth
causes q change, and the wood be-
gins to ripen; for the wood, like The
fruit, rlpens regularly each season.
That the wood does not become ripe
until late in the season, may be in
ferred from the fact that early frosts
often kill the finer and more expos
ed twigs. It would naturally follow,
therefore, that during all the time of
this formation of the wood and the
preparatory stages, the tree contains
elements which would seriously af-
feet its value for timber, and which,
if left in, will tend to promote pre-
mature decay. This being the case,
we hold to the opinion that timber
should not be cut until it has fully
matured, and only in the months of
November, December and January.
If cut when the flow Of sap is
greatest and grains expanded, it is
almost sure to be valueless. The
large quantity of sap in the wood
cannot be dried out without fermen-
tation taking place. This fermenta-
ton at once brings into life the fungi
which have long been lying dormant
in every pore, and unless Immediate
ly arrested by some artificial process
itwould spreaditself rapidly through
every part of the timber. 1t is we'll
known that the fungus is of rapid
growth, and a stick of timber that
has lain three months filed with
sour sap cannot be restored to its
former elasticity and toughness. If,
however artificial means are resorted
to and the sap is destroyed by steam
or otherwise, the timber will be
light, particularly if cut during the
months of April, May or July.
If cut in July or August the TIM
Der will be frmer than when cut in
the earlier spring and summer
months, but the hot weather causes
rapid fermentation and the conse-
quent destruction by the fungi. If,
however, the tree be not cut until
cold weather, the sap remaining in
the tree has ceased to flow to any
extent, and has become thick and
glutinoUs. In this state it is much
less liableto fermentation, and the
weather being cold, as soon as the
air reaches it, instead of souring it
begins to dry, and the fungus has no
chance to develop. nor will it ever
affect the timber unless it should be
exposed to moisture and heat in the
summer; then, no matter whether
the timber is seasoned or not, it will
develop and as surely destroy the
timber as though it had commenced
its work Immediately after the tree
was cut.