GENERAL ECONOMY OF THE FARM. 281 



same paper, page 4, is a communication recommending the 

 month of August, within one day of the time when the moon 

 is full, as the best period for cutting all kinds of oak. But it 

 is urged, in order to guard it from decay, to immerse the wood 

 immediately after it is cut and split to the dimensions required, 

 in lime and water, in which it is to remain a year, affording 

 time for the particles of lime to penetrate the pores of the 

 wood. This lime water is to be frequently agitated. This 

 process requires a vat, which may be sunk in the ground at 

 little expense. The water and lime should be of the consistence 

 of white wash. If the durability of the timber is promoted 

 by this process, it is evidently owing to the antiseptic quality 

 of the lime water with which it is saturated, and not to the 

 mere circumstance of cutting the timber in August. 



The Editor of the Genesee Farmer, and a host of his corre- 

 spondents, recommend cutting timber in the winter, as its 

 durability depends upon its being cut when free from sap. 

 JOSHUA HOWARD says, that from twenty years experience in 

 the preservation of timber, the best time to cut it to ensure 

 durability, is when the tree is in its greatest vigour, which, 

 in the latitude of his residence, Dearbornville, N. Y., is about 

 the middle of June. He cites a case in which a man was con- 

 vinced against his will. A farmer in North Carolina wishing 

 to fence a certain lot, went to work according to the old theory, 

 and cut his rail timber during the full of the moon in February. 

 When he came in May to put up his fence, he was deficient 

 about forty panels; he went into the woods, cut the requisite 

 quantity, and put it up as the only alternative. Ten or twelve 

 years afterward on examining the fence, he was exceedingly 

 surprised to find that the rails cut and split in May, were in- 

 finitely more sound than those cut and prepared in February. 

 There are thousands of similar cases. 



A great variety of plans have been proposed for the preser- 

 vation of timber. The late SAMUEL PRESTON, of Stockport, 

 Pa., was satisfied from experience, that posts set with the top 

 part in the ground, will last from three to four times as long as 

 when they are set with the butt ends down. DANIEL LONG- 

 STRETH says that penstocks and other timbers exposed to wet 

 or dampness near the water-wheel, are placed by many mill- 

 wrights with the top end downwards, as they are found to 

 be more durable than when placed in a different position. 

 Charring posts has been strongly recommended and extensive- 

 ly practiced, without, however, answering fully the expecta- 

 tion of its advocates. Wood tar has been recorded as a pre- 

 servative of timber. A correspondent of the Farmer's (Va.) 

 Register, cites several very interesting cases, which go to prove 

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