116 Gibbs on Dry Rot. 
sider the enormous consumption of wood during the last 
century, in large and small vessels, in houses, and in all the 
objects which “add to the comforts of society, both in Eu-- 
rope and America, we may justly suppose that few old 
oaks can be supplied in Europe, and that the number in 
America is continually diminishing. 
We are therefore justified in believing, that the dry rot 
in vessels and houses, in its present extension, is owing to 
the use of young timber, to which architects have had re- 
cource, in consequence of the destruction of the old forests. 
It is perhaps impossible to prevent the danger, but it may 
be in ourspower to guard in a great measure against it.— 
And it is of so much importance, that I feel less reluctance 
in offering my opinion on the subject. 
The object of every process for the preservation of tim- 
ber, must be to extract the water of the sap, and to destroy 
the absorbent power of the wood, and chiefly of the sap 
vessels. The different uses for which the timber is intend- 
ed, will of course cause some difference in the mode of its 
treatment. For this purpose, I suggest with diffidence the 
following processes, some one of which may probably be 
used in every situation :-— 
The first method is suggested by a very common usage 
of charring posts which are to be placed in the ground.— 
This method is of very ancient date, it having been used 
both by the Grecians and the Romans; and the piles so 
used either for bridges or foundations of temples, are now 
frequently found.in a state of complete preservation, after a 
lapse of two thousand years. Bui the use of this method 
must necessarily be very limited. - 
Another method emay perhaps be tried with success, and 
without greater expense than many that have been resorted 
to without avail:-1 mean the use of smoke. This would 
evaporate the water of the sap, and carbonise im some 
measure the wood. 
A third method is the application of lime, either in solu- 
tion or as air slacked. The first would act like the muriate 
of soda in sea water, in the docking of timber, but from 
chemical affinity, much more powerfully. It might be ap- 
plied to timber in most situations. I understand that when 
the steam frigate was built in New-York, a quantity of pot- 
ash was poured into the centre of each timber. [Between 
