BOOK XVI. Lxxiv. 191-LXXV. 194 



If conjunctions should coincide with the shortest day 

 of the winter solstice, the timber produced lasts for 

 ever; and the next best is when the conjunction 

 coincides with the constellations mentioned above. 

 Some people add the rising of the Dog-star also, 

 and say that this was how the timber used for the 

 Forum of Augustus was felled. But trees that are 

 neither quite young nor old are the most useful 

 for timber. Another plan not without value is 

 followed by some people, who make a cut round 

 the trees as far as the pith and then leave them 

 standing, so that all the moisture may drain out of 

 them. It is a remarkable fact that in old days in 

 the first Punic War the fleet commanded by DuiUus ° 

 was on the water within 60 days after the timber 

 left the tree, while, according to the account of 

 Lucius Piso, the 220 ships that fought against 

 King Hiero ^ were built in 45 days ; also in the second 

 Punic war Scipio's fleet sailed on the 40th day after 

 the timber had been felled. So effective is prompt 

 action even in the hurry of an emergency. 



LXXV. Cato, the leading authority on timber in Caioor, 

 all its uses, adds the following advice '^ : ' Make a '^'^^' 

 press of black fir wood for choice. With elm, 

 pine or walnut timber, when you are going to root 

 up these or any other tree, take them up when the 

 moon is waning, in the aftemoon, when there is not 

 a south wind. A tree will be ready for feUing when 

 its seed is ripe. And be careful not to haul a tree or 

 trim it with the axe when there is a dew.' And 

 the same writer later ^ : ' Do not touch timber ex- 

 cept at new moon, or else at the end of the 

 moon's second quarter ; with timber which you dig 

 up by the roots or cut off level with the ground, 



