1Time to harden and to get a Kind of Matu
rity of Strength before it is applied to Uſe.
After it is thus prepared, Cato directs, that it
muſt not be brought out into the Air but in
the Wane of the Moon, and after Mid-day, and
even in the Wane of the Moon he condemns
the four Days next after the fiſteenth, and pre
cautions us againſt bringing it out in a South
Wind. And when we bring it out, we muſt
take Care not to draw it through the Dew,
nor to ſaw or cut it when it is covered with
Dew or Froſt, but only when it is perfectly dry
in all Reſpects.
rity of Strength before it is applied to Uſe.
After it is thus prepared, Cato directs, that it
muſt not be brought out into the Air but in
the Wane of the Moon, and after Mid-day, and
even in the Wane of the Moon he condemns
the four Days next after the fiſteenth, and pre
cautions us againſt bringing it out in a South
Wind. And when we bring it out, we muſt
take Care not to draw it through the Dew,
nor to ſaw or cut it when it is covered with
Dew or Froſt, but only when it is perfectly dry
in all Reſpects.
CHAP. VI.
What Woods are moſt proper for Building, their Natures and Uſes, how they
are to be employed, and what Part of the Edifice each Kind is moſt fit for.
are to be employed, and what Part of the Edifice each Kind is moſt fit for.
Theophraſtus thinks that Timber is not dry
enough for the making of Planks, eſpeci
ally for Doors, in leſs than three Years. The
Trees of moſt Uſe for Building were reckoned
to be theſe; the Holm, and all other Sorts of
Oaks, the Beech, the Poplar, the Linden, the
Willow, the Alder, the Aſh, the Pine, the Cy
preſs, the Olive, both Wild and Garden, the
Cheſnut, the Larch Tree, the Box, the Cedar,
the Ebony, and even the Vine: But all theſe
are various in their Natures, and therefore muſt
be applied to various Uſes. Some are better
than others to be expoſed without Doors,
others muſt be uſed within; ſome delight in
the open Air, others harden in the Water, and
will endure almoſt for ever under Ground;
ſome are good to make nice Boards, and for
Sculptures, and all Manner of Joyner's Work;
ſome for Beams and Rafters; others are ſtronger
for ſupporting open Terraſſes, and Coverings;
and the Alder, for Piles to make a Foundation
in a River or marſhy Ground, exceeds all other
Trees, and bears the Wet incomparably well,
but will not laſt at all in the Air or Sun. On
the contrary, the Beech will not endure the
Wet at all. The Elm, ſet in the open Air,
hardens extremely; but elſe it ſplits and will
not laſt. The Pitch Tree and Pine, if buried
under Ground, are wonderfully durable. But
the Oak, being hard, cloſe, and nervous, and
of the ſmalleſt Pores, not admitting any Moiſ
ture, is the propereſt of any for all Manner of
Works under Ground, capable of ſupporting
the greateſt Weights, and is the ſtrongeſt of
Columns. But though Nature has endued it
with ſo much Hardneſs that it cannot be bored
unleſs it be ſoaked, yet above Ground it is
reckoned inconſtant, and to warp and grow
unmanageable, and in the Sea-water quickly
rots; which does not happen to the Olive, nor
Holm Oak, nor Wild Olive, though in other
Things they agree with the Oak. The Maſt
Holm never conſumes with Age, becauſe it's
Inſide is juicy, and as it were always green.
The Beech likewiſe and the Cheſnut do not
rot in the Water, and are reckoned among the
principal Trees for Works under Ground. The
Cork Tree alſo, and the wild Pine, the Mul
berry, the Maple, and the Elm are not amiſs
for Columns. Theophraſtus recommends the
Negropont Nut Tree for Beams and Rafters,
becauſe before it breaks it gives Notice by a
Crack, which formerly ſaved the Lives of a
great many People, who, upon the falling of
the publick Baths at Andros, by Means of that
Warning had Time to make their Eſcape. But
the Fir is much the Beſt for that Uſe; for as it
is one of the Biggeſt and Thickeſt of Trees, ſo
it is endued with a natural Stiffneſs, that will
not eaſily give way to the Weight that is laid
upon it, but ſtands firm and never yields. Add
beſides, that it is eaſy to work, and does not
lie too heavy upon the Wall. In ſhort, many
Perfections, and Uſes, and great Praiſes are aſ
cribed to this ſingle Wood; nevertheleſs we
cannot diſown that it has one Fault, which is,
that it is too apt to catch Fire. Not inferior
to this for Roofs, is the Cypreſs, a Tree, in
many other Reſpects ſo uſeful, that it claims a
principal Rank among the moſt excellent. The
Ancients reckoned it as one of the Beſt, and
not inferior to Cedar or Ebony. In India the
Cypreſs is valued almoſt equal with the Spice
Trees, and with good Reaſon; for whatever
Praiſes may be beſtowed upon the Ammony or
Cirenaic Field Pine, which Theophraſtus ſays is
everlaſting, yet if you conſult either Smell,
Beauty, Strength, Bigneſs, Straitneſs, or Du
ration, or all theſe together, what Tree can you
put in Competition with the Cypreſs? It is
enough for the making of Planks, eſpeci
ally for Doors, in leſs than three Years. The
Trees of moſt Uſe for Building were reckoned
to be theſe; the Holm, and all other Sorts of
Oaks, the Beech, the Poplar, the Linden, the
Willow, the Alder, the Aſh, the Pine, the Cy
preſs, the Olive, both Wild and Garden, the
Cheſnut, the Larch Tree, the Box, the Cedar,
the Ebony, and even the Vine: But all theſe
are various in their Natures, and therefore muſt
be applied to various Uſes. Some are better
than others to be expoſed without Doors,
others muſt be uſed within; ſome delight in
the open Air, others harden in the Water, and
will endure almoſt for ever under Ground;
ſome are good to make nice Boards, and for
Sculptures, and all Manner of Joyner's Work;
ſome for Beams and Rafters; others are ſtronger
for ſupporting open Terraſſes, and Coverings;
and the Alder, for Piles to make a Foundation
in a River or marſhy Ground, exceeds all other
Trees, and bears the Wet incomparably well,
but will not laſt at all in the Air or Sun. On
the contrary, the Beech will not endure the
Wet at all. The Elm, ſet in the open Air,
hardens extremely; but elſe it ſplits and will
not laſt. The Pitch Tree and Pine, if buried
under Ground, are wonderfully durable. But
the Oak, being hard, cloſe, and nervous, and
of the ſmalleſt Pores, not admitting any Moiſ
ture, is the propereſt of any for all Manner of
Works under Ground, capable of ſupporting
the greateſt Weights, and is the ſtrongeſt of
Columns. But though Nature has endued it
with ſo much Hardneſs that it cannot be bored
unleſs it be ſoaked, yet above Ground it is
reckoned inconſtant, and to warp and grow
unmanageable, and in the Sea-water quickly
rots; which does not happen to the Olive, nor
Holm Oak, nor Wild Olive, though in other
Things they agree with the Oak. The Maſt
Holm never conſumes with Age, becauſe it's
Inſide is juicy, and as it were always green.
The Beech likewiſe and the Cheſnut do not
rot in the Water, and are reckoned among the
principal Trees for Works under Ground. The
Cork Tree alſo, and the wild Pine, the Mul
berry, the Maple, and the Elm are not amiſs
for Columns. Theophraſtus recommends the
Negropont Nut Tree for Beams and Rafters,
becauſe before it breaks it gives Notice by a
Crack, which formerly ſaved the Lives of a
great many People, who, upon the falling of
the publick Baths at Andros, by Means of that
Warning had Time to make their Eſcape. But
the Fir is much the Beſt for that Uſe; for as it
is one of the Biggeſt and Thickeſt of Trees, ſo
it is endued with a natural Stiffneſs, that will
not eaſily give way to the Weight that is laid
upon it, but ſtands firm and never yields. Add
beſides, that it is eaſy to work, and does not
lie too heavy upon the Wall. In ſhort, many
Perfections, and Uſes, and great Praiſes are aſ
cribed to this ſingle Wood; nevertheleſs we
cannot diſown that it has one Fault, which is,
that it is too apt to catch Fire. Not inferior
to this for Roofs, is the Cypreſs, a Tree, in
many other Reſpects ſo uſeful, that it claims a
principal Rank among the moſt excellent. The
Ancients reckoned it as one of the Beſt, and
not inferior to Cedar or Ebony. In India the
Cypreſs is valued almoſt equal with the Spice
Trees, and with good Reaſon; for whatever
Praiſes may be beſtowed upon the Ammony or
Cirenaic Field Pine, which Theophraſtus ſays is
everlaſting, yet if you conſult either Smell,
Beauty, Strength, Bigneſs, Straitneſs, or Du
ration, or all theſe together, what Tree can you
put in Competition with the Cypreſs? It is