Evelyn makes the following observations upon timber ; some of which are well worthy of attention :— " Lay up your timber very dry, in an airy place, yet out of the wind or sun, and not standing upright, but lying along, one piece upon another, interposing some short blocks between them, to preserve them from a certain mouldiness which they usually contract while they sweat, and which produces a kind of fungus, especially if there be any sappy parts remaining.
" Some there are vet, who keep their timber as moist as they can by submerging it in water, where they let it imbibe to hinder the cleaving ; and this is good in fir, both for the better stripping and seasoning, yea, and not only in fir, but other timber. Lay, therefore, your boards a fortnight in the water. (if running the better, as at sonic mill-pond head,) and then setting them upright in the sun and wind, so as it may freely pass through them, (especially during the heats of summer, which is the time of finishing buildings.) turn them daily, and thus treated, even newly-sawn boards will floor far better than many years' dry-seasoning, as they call it. But. to prevent all possible accidents, when you lay your floors, let the joints be shot, fitted, and tacked down only for the first year, nailing them for good and all the next ; and by this means they will lie stanch, close, and without shrink ing in the least, as if they were all one piece. And upon this occasion, I au, to add an observation, which may prove of no small use to builders ; that if one take up deal-boards that may have lain in the floor a hundred years. and shoot them again, they will certainly shrink, (tolies qnolies,) without the former method. Amongst wheelwrights, the water-seasoning is of especial regard ; and in such esteem amongst some, that 510 assured the Venetians, for their provision in the arsenal, lay their oak some years in water before they employ it. Indeed, the Turks not only fell at all times of the year, without any regard to the season, but employ their timber green and unseasoned ; so that, though they have excellent oak, it decays in a short time by this only neglect.
" Elm felled ever so green, for sudden use, if plunged four or five days iu water, (especially salt water,)obtains an admi rable seasoning, and may immediately be used. I the oftener insist on this water-seasoning, not only as a remedy against the worm, but for its efficacy against warping and distortions of thnber, whether used within or exposed to the air. Some,
again, commend in the earth, others in wheat ; and there be seasonings of the fire, as for the scorching and hard ening of piles, which are to stand either in the water or in the earth.
" When wood is charred, it becomes incorruptible ; for which reason. when we wish to preserve piles from decay, they should he charred on their outside. Oak posts, used in enclosures, alwa? s decay about two inches above and below the surface. Charring that part would probably add several years to the duration of the w ood, for that to most timber it contributes much to its duration. Thus, do all the elements contribute to the art of seasoning.
"And yet even the greenest timber is sometimes desirable for such as carve and turn, but it chokes the teeth of our saws ; and for doors, w indows, floors, and other close works, it is altogether to be rejected, especially where walnut-tree is the material, which will he sure to shrink. Therefore, it is best to choose such as is of two or three years' seasoning, and that is neither moist nor over dry ; the mean is best. Sir Hugh Plat informs us, that the Venetians used to burn and scorch their timber in a flaming fire, continually turning, it round with an engine. till they have gotten upon it a hard black cooly crust ; and the secret carries with it great probability, for the wood is brought by it to such a hardness and dryness, that neither earth nor water can penetrate it ; I myself remembering to have seen charcoal dug out of the ground amongst the ruins of ancient buildings, which had in all probability lain covered with earth above fifteen hundred years.
Timber which is cleft is nothing so obnoxious to reft and cleave, as what is hewn; nor that which is squared. as what is round ; and therefore, where use is to be made of huge and massy columns. let them be bored through from end to end. It is au excelhnt preservative from splitting, and not unphi losophical ; though, to cure the accident, painter's putty is reeontmended ; also, the rubbing them over with a wax-cloth is good ; or before it be converted, the smearing the timber over with cow-dung, which prevents the eGets both of sun and air upon it, it', of necessity, it must lie exposed. But, besides the tbrmer remedies, I find this for the closing of the chops and clefts of green timber, to anoint and supple it with the fat of powdered beef-broth, with which it must be well soaked, and the chasms filled with sponges dipt into it. This to be twice dune over.