No. 3. 



Cultivation of the Oak. 



77 



and durability of the wood are fully devel- 

 oped, and the longitudinal fibres tough and 

 resisting. As' the albuminous matter of 

 which we have spoken is a nitrogenized 

 compound, it is of a pntrescible nature, and 

 therefore forms food for insects, which pene- 

 trate the wood in various directions, admit- 

 ting air and water to the interior of the tim- 

 ber. It is evident that this chemical action, 

 or fermentative process, must be greatly fa- 

 voured by externa] causes, or the location in 

 which the wood is placed. The close appo- 

 sition and dense mass of timbers that are 

 seen in the hull of a battle-ship of the line 

 on the stocks is considered as favourable to 

 this action, although there are no doubts but 

 what the germs of the disease are lurking 

 in the timbers previous to their use, occa- 

 sioned by the want of care and suitable se- 

 lection of appropriate trees, and preservation 

 of the timber after cutting. The local sites 

 of navy yards, where there must be a proper 

 depth of water, unavoidably place the timber 

 in a topographical situation that is unfavour- 

 able to the preservation of the wood, as heat 

 and moisture accelerate the chemical action, 

 and promote the fungous growths, whose nu- 

 trition depends on the chemical changes 

 heretofore mentioned. 



Could we always find a suitable hydro- 

 graphical station for a navy yard, where, 

 combined with its facilities, there was a dry- 

 ness and purity of atmosphere, many of the 

 causes that decompose the materials for ship 

 building would be prevented; but as such 

 localities cannot always be found in the sur- 

 veys for such stations, we must patiently 

 submit to the injurious effects of heat and 

 damp atmosphere, however well guarded the 

 ships may be in their sheltered positions by 

 ventilation and suitable protection; although 

 it is of the highest importance that the geo- 

 graphical situations of such places should be 

 well understood and taken into consideration, 

 as rivers, marshes, bogs, mean standard of 

 the thermometer, barometer, and hygrome- 

 ter, and mean quantity of rain. 



The proper season for cutting such timber 

 will next be considered. The months of 

 July and August, when the trees are in foli- 

 age, and the juices circulating freely, is de- 

 cidedly the best period for cutting; as then 

 the greater portion of the albumen is con- 

 tained in the cambium or descending sap, 

 while most of the nitrogen is set free by ex- 

 halation, and is principally combined with 

 the fluids that circulate exteriorly. The 

 trees, after they are fallen, should be imme- 

 diately rough hewn, and deprived of their 

 sap-wood and bark, placing the timber in 

 the most favourable situation for seasoning 

 and desiccation by elevating it from the 



earth. The ordinary process of seasoning 

 wood consists in merely exposing it to a 

 current of air. It would be a desirable 

 thing if we could find a location where a 

 dry air could be naturally maintained through- 

 out the year; but this desideratum could not 

 be easily obtained. The time necessary to 

 season the oaks differs according to the den- 

 sity of the structure — and various dimen- 

 sions of those woods that are exposed for 

 desiccation ; a plank probably would not re- 

 quire twelve months, while a piece of larger 

 dimensions could not be thoroughly seasoned 

 in six or seven years ; and if placed in a hu- 

 mid situation, would not season at all, and 

 the result would be a decomposition from 

 the formation of ammoniacal salts and mush- 

 room growths. 



To benefit property, and perpetuate the 

 materials for ship-building, we propose that 

 the legislatures of our States appropriate 

 means for the cultivation of those oaks that 

 are indigenous to their regions. In order to 

 ensure success in such an undertaking, a 

 tract of land should bo set apart of some 

 thousand acres in a favourable location for 

 their growth. The soil for this purpose 

 should not be too rich nor stimulating: the 

 trees can be propagated from the acorn, or 

 transplanted from their native forests. If 

 the latter plan is adopted, the trees selected 

 for this purpose should be from four to five 

 years of age, of a healthy appearance, and 

 perfect symmetry. We recommend their 

 being taken up in the latter part of October 

 or the month of November, with a careful 

 preservation of their roots, and immediately 

 transferred to the soil that is allotted for 

 their permanent abode. This period for 

 transplanting those trees is decidedly the 

 best, as then the descension of the sap is 

 completed, and the action of the leaves qui- 

 escent, while that of the absorbing rootlets 

 ceases also, because the nutrition which is 

 taken in by them is not convertible into 

 woody substance without the cooperation of 

 the leaves. They should be set apart, at 

 proper distances, in such a manner as to 

 have ample room for growth, and the free 

 action of heat and light on all sides. Such 

 parks or nurseries in our States would be 

 more commemorative of the genius of a na- 

 tion than all the marble monuments and 

 towering edifices that can be erected. This 

 scheme is not only thought worthy of a go- 

 vernment's consideration, but is applicable 

 to every individual farmer and landed pro- 

 prietor in this country. They shou-ld be 

 transplanted on the outskirts of every farm 

 or plantation; marking the boundary of their 

 different possessions, by the growth of those 

 sylvan giants that have been the pride of 



