Year: 1867

The time was when the object was TO
destroy timber, but now it is to save II.
When 1 was a small boy heard an old,
observing mechanic say that the LIE
had to be got out of timber before II
would season. He said to pile up green
lumber, and it would take it about
wear to season, and after the lumber
was thoroughly seasoned, let it be COM
pletely saturated with water, and pie
it up in the same manner, and in few
days or weeks it would completely dry.
l have observed that the life clings TO
timber with more tenacity cut at one
season of the year than at another; 1t
also depends greatly on the treatment
it receives after being cut. Many va
rieties of timber if cut in the winter
and left to absorb moisture from the
clouds and atmosphere will send out
shoots and leaves that will continue
green all the next season, which If boil
ed a little or heated to boiling tempera-
ture, would very soon season and dry
out. have noticed that timber quick
IL became close grained and compact,
and would be very durable, while that
which stayed green a long time after 1t
was cut would be brash, light, open
grained, and easily absorb moisture, l
have seen timber hanging in trees,
broken in winter by sleet, that in three
years were nearly rotten, while otn,
ers on the same tree were sound
after being dead twenty years.
II have seen trees girdled late
in the fall, or in the winter, or ear
ly in the spring, that would leave out
the second and third year, and in four
or five years they would be pretty well
rotted, while others girdled in the lat
ter part of summer would soon dry, the
bark would crack open and curl up, and
the timber would be sound. For many
years cut off all my rail timber in the
winter, mostly in February; about l5
years ago / made some rails out of small
black oaks, or what is called Jack oak
made some more the succeeding Au-
gust, and some posts of the same timber
Those made in the winter are rotten
and worthless those made in the sum
mer are heavy, solid, and sound-no'
even sap-rotten, and many of the posts
are still standing. Timber cut In June
does not last as we'll as if cut later, it i:
then soft, full of sap, easily absorb;
moisture, and when seasoned is brash
and light; but if Immediately split
the bark peeled off, and laid off of the
ground, exposed to sun and air till sea
soned, it lasts pretty well. | once cut
lot of rail timber in February, ant
left it till June, then split and peelee
off the bark, expecting to get the 6ene
fit of the February theory of firm bart
wood and but little sap, and of the june
theory of the bark easily peeling off ant
the rails quickly seasoning; the rail-


were lighter than if cut in August, ant
did not last well. Hereafter | intent
to cut rail timber and wood for fuel II
August, and would prefer to have i
split as soon as cut, but if cannot &c
it split, or even cut down, what l wan


to use before August will girdle. Th'
timber that is considered worthless TO
fencing, on account Of rotting SO quick
ly, such as linn, aspen, quaking sap, o.
popple, and black oak saplings, if Gu
and split in August and properly sea
soned, will last for ten years. Linn ant
aspen, if nailed to posts, should b'
stripped, or they will rot around the
nail. Rails are stronger and more dur
able than boards for fence, and, If prop
erly split, more fence can be made from
the same timber, unless it is very rougf
and knotty. Rails should be split so al
to have the part nearest the heart a
near to an edge as possible and If spill
in that way they will only season cracl
On the side fnrtherest fnsr, From the nsoa heart
ways be nailed or put up.-Iowa Cor.
Farmers Club.