CHAP, iv S YL V A 81 



subterranean, and cavernous rocks, and laid the first 

 groundsil upon which they plac'd the upright posts, 

 and rudely fram'd a pointed roof, arboribus perpetuis 

 planis (on which the critics have vext their researches) 

 and from which mean beginning, all the superb, and 

 pompous effects of architecture have proceeded : But 

 to pursue our title, we have before spoken concerning 

 some preparations of standing trees designed for timber, 

 by a half-cutting, disbarking, and the seasons of draw- 

 ing and using it. 



2. 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 frequently produces a 

 kind of fungus, especially if there be any sappy parts 

 remaining. 



3. Some there are yet, 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 there- 

 fore your boards a fortnight in the water, (if running 

 the better, as at some 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 a many years dry 

 seasoning, as they call it. But to prevent all possible 

 accidents, when you lay your floors, let the joynts be 

 shot, fitted, and tacked down only for the first year, 

 nailing them for good and all the next ; and by this 



KK 



