1are drawn down, or left by the Moon in the
loweſt Roots, the Reſt of the Timber is clearer
and ſounder. Moreover they think that the
Tree will be much more ſerviceable, if it is not
cut quite down immediately, but chopt round
about, and ſo left ſtanding upon the Stump to
dry. And they ſay, that if the Fir (which is
not the moſt unapt to ſuffer by Moiſture) be
barked in the Wane of the Moon, it will never
afterwards be liable to be rotted by Water.
There are ſome who affirm that if the Oak,
which is ſo heavy a Wood that naturally it
ſinks in the Water, be chopt round the Bot
tom in the Beginning of Spring, and cut down
when it has loſt its Leaves, it will have ſuch
an Effect upon it, that it will float for the
Space of ninety Days and not ſink. Others
adviſe to chop the Trees which you leave thus
upon their Stumps, half way through, that the
Corruption and bad Juices may diſtil through,
and be carried off. They add, that the Trees,
which are deſigned to be ſawed or planed,
ſhould not be cut down till they have brought
their Fruits and ripened their Seeds; and that
Trees ſo cut, eſpecially Fruit-bearers, ſhould
be barked, becauſe while they are covered with
the Bark, Corruption is very apt to gather be
tween the Rind and the Tree.
loweſt Roots, the Reſt of the Timber is clearer
and ſounder. Moreover they think that the
Tree will be much more ſerviceable, if it is not
cut quite down immediately, but chopt round
about, and ſo left ſtanding upon the Stump to
dry. And they ſay, that if the Fir (which is
not the moſt unapt to ſuffer by Moiſture) be
barked in the Wane of the Moon, it will never
afterwards be liable to be rotted by Water.
There are ſome who affirm that if the Oak,
which is ſo heavy a Wood that naturally it
ſinks in the Water, be chopt round the Bot
tom in the Beginning of Spring, and cut down
when it has loſt its Leaves, it will have ſuch
an Effect upon it, that it will float for the
Space of ninety Days and not ſink. Others
adviſe to chop the Trees which you leave thus
upon their Stumps, half way through, that the
Corruption and bad Juices may diſtil through,
and be carried off. They add, that the Trees,
which are deſigned to be ſawed or planed,
ſhould not be cut down till they have brought
their Fruits and ripened their Seeds; and that
Trees ſo cut, eſpecially Fruit-bearers, ſhould
be barked, becauſe while they are covered with
the Bark, Corruption is very apt to gather be
tween the Rind and the Tree.
CHAP. V.
Of preſerving the Trees after they are cut, what to plaiſter or anoint them with,
of the Remedies againſt their Infirmities, and of allotting them their proper
Places in the Building.
of the Remedies againſt their Infirmities, and of allotting them their proper
Places in the Building.
After the Timber is cut, it muſt be
laid where the ſcorching Heat of the
Sun or rude Blaſts of Winds never come; and
eſpecially, that which falls of itſelf, ought to
be very well protected with Shade. And for
this Reaſon, the ancient Architects uſed to
plaiſter it over with Ox-Dung; which Theo
phraſtus ſays they did, becauſe by that Means
all the Pores being ſtopped up, the ſuperfluous
Flegm and Humidity concreting within, diſ
tils and vents itſelf by Degrees through the
Heart, by which Means the Dryneſs of the
other Parts of the Wood is condenſed by its
drying equally throughout. And they are of
Opinion that Trees dry better, if ſet with their
Heads downward. Moreover, they preſcribe
various Remedies againſt their decaying and
other Infirmities. Theophraſtus thinks that
burying of Timber hardens it extremely. Cato
adviſes to anoint it with Lees of Oil, to pre
ſerve it from all Manner of Worms; and we
all know that Pitch is a Defence to it againſt
Water. They ſay that Wood, which has been
ſoaked in the Dregs of Oil, will burn without
the Offence of Smoak. Pliny writes, that in
the Labyrinth of Egypt, there are a great
many Beams made of the Egyptian Thorn
rubed over with Oil, and Theophraſtus ſays,
that Timber dawbed over with Glue will
not burn. Nor will I omit what we read in
Aulus Gellius, taken out of the Annals of Quin
tus Claudius, that Archelaus, Mithridates's Præ
fect, having thoroughly debawbed a wooden
Tower in the Piræum with Allum, when
Sylla beſieged it, it would not take Fire. Se
veral Woods are hardened and ſtrengthened a
gainſt the Aſſaults of Storms in various Man
ners. They bury the Citron-wood under
Ground, plaiſtered over with Wax, for ſeven
Days, and after an Intermiſſion of as many
more, lay it under Heaps of Corn for the ſame
Space of Time, whereby it becomes not only
ſtronger but eaſier to be wrought, becauſe it
takes away a very conſiderable Part of its
Weight; and they ſay too, that the ſame
Wood thus dryed, being afterwards laid ſome
time in the Sea, acquires a Hardneſs incredibly
ſolid and incorruptible. It is certain the Cheſ
nut Tree is purged by the Sea-water. Pliny
writes, the Ægyptian Fig-tree is laid under
Water to dry and grow lighter, for at firſt it
will ſink to the Bottom. We ſee that our
Workmen lay their Timber under Water or
Dung for thirty Days, eſpecially ſuch as they
deſign for turning, by which Means they think
it is better dried and more eaſily worked for
all Manner of Uſes. There are ſome who af
firm, that all Manner of Woods agree in this,
that if you bury them in ſome moiſt Place
while they are green, they will endure for ever;
but whether you preſerve it in Woods, or bury,
or anoint it, the Experienced are univerſally of
this Opinion, that you muſt not meddle with
it under three Months: The Timber muſt have
laid where the ſcorching Heat of the
Sun or rude Blaſts of Winds never come; and
eſpecially, that which falls of itſelf, ought to
be very well protected with Shade. And for
this Reaſon, the ancient Architects uſed to
plaiſter it over with Ox-Dung; which Theo
phraſtus ſays they did, becauſe by that Means
all the Pores being ſtopped up, the ſuperfluous
Flegm and Humidity concreting within, diſ
tils and vents itſelf by Degrees through the
Heart, by which Means the Dryneſs of the
other Parts of the Wood is condenſed by its
drying equally throughout. And they are of
Opinion that Trees dry better, if ſet with their
Heads downward. Moreover, they preſcribe
various Remedies againſt their decaying and
other Infirmities. Theophraſtus thinks that
burying of Timber hardens it extremely. Cato
adviſes to anoint it with Lees of Oil, to pre
ſerve it from all Manner of Worms; and we
all know that Pitch is a Defence to it againſt
Water. They ſay that Wood, which has been
ſoaked in the Dregs of Oil, will burn without
the Offence of Smoak. Pliny writes, that in
the Labyrinth of Egypt, there are a great
many Beams made of the Egyptian Thorn
rubed over with Oil, and Theophraſtus ſays,
that Timber dawbed over with Glue will
not burn. Nor will I omit what we read in
Aulus Gellius, taken out of the Annals of Quin
tus Claudius, that Archelaus, Mithridates's Præ
fect, having thoroughly debawbed a wooden
Tower in the Piræum with Allum, when
Sylla beſieged it, it would not take Fire. Se
veral Woods are hardened and ſtrengthened a
gainſt the Aſſaults of Storms in various Man
ners. They bury the Citron-wood under
Ground, plaiſtered over with Wax, for ſeven
Days, and after an Intermiſſion of as many
more, lay it under Heaps of Corn for the ſame
Space of Time, whereby it becomes not only
ſtronger but eaſier to be wrought, becauſe it
takes away a very conſiderable Part of its
Weight; and they ſay too, that the ſame
Wood thus dryed, being afterwards laid ſome
time in the Sea, acquires a Hardneſs incredibly
ſolid and incorruptible. It is certain the Cheſ
nut Tree is purged by the Sea-water. Pliny
writes, the Ægyptian Fig-tree is laid under
Water to dry and grow lighter, for at firſt it
will ſink to the Bottom. We ſee that our
Workmen lay their Timber under Water or
Dung for thirty Days, eſpecially ſuch as they
deſign for turning, by which Means they think
it is better dried and more eaſily worked for
all Manner of Uſes. There are ſome who af
firm, that all Manner of Woods agree in this,
that if you bury them in ſome moiſt Place
while they are green, they will endure for ever;
but whether you preſerve it in Woods, or bury,
or anoint it, the Experienced are univerſally of
this Opinion, that you muſt not meddle with
it under three Months: The Timber muſt have