412 On Succession of Timber. 



each sort has a peculiar attraction for its own specific 

 nourishment. If this could be established, it might ac- 

 count for the whole of one species failing, because its 

 supplies of peculiar nourishment were exhausted ; 

 whilst that for other kinds either contemporaneously 

 existing, or succeeding, remained in abundance ; for 

 the support of the species to which it is appropriate. 

 On this theory, I give no opinion. The facts are indu- 

 bitable ; whilst the cause remains hidden. 



The same informant told me that he had evidence 

 of the fact stated in our present volume, of the supe- 

 rior duration of reversed timber used for posts. It was 

 to me singular, that he assigned the same reason for 

 his belief in the cause, which I have long entertained ; 

 — to wit, — the impracticability of the circulation of 

 moisture, in the reversed vessels of the timber. 



He mentions a fact I have often heard. Take a 

 piece of hiccory, cut when the sap is in full flow ; and 

 lean it against the most flourishing pine. The worms 

 bred in the hiccory sap wood, will pass into the pine, 

 and inevitably destroy it. 



There is a certain stage of the growth of hiccory, 

 when it is very durable for fences and other uses. I do 

 not know exactly w^ien it should be felled for such pur- 

 poses ; but I have understood, that it is best cut when 

 the sap is flowing : (see page 110) contrary to what I 

 have observed as to all other timber. I have never used 

 hiccory, exposed to the weather, for purposes in which 

 duration was essential. Your obedient servant, 



RicpiARD Peters. 

 Dr. James Mease. 



Secretary of the Philad. Jgric, Sac, 



