CURE OF THE DRY ROT. H 



very flight defcent or fall^ and made of the depth of one yard Fafts andobfer- 

 for each yard of afcent, ana from the foundation until equal ^n- the dry'^roc' 

 to the height tha'^ iuch damp ever rifes, would, there is little in timber, and 

 doubt, completely iecure the houfe and furniture from the *^' *^"''^* 

 inconveniences hitherto fuflained, and would generally prove 

 an effedtual prevention to moft cafes of the dry rot, where it 

 originates in extreme moifture. lam of opinion that the fun- 

 gus which pervades decaying wood is not the iirft caufe, but 

 an attendant on the peculiar flate to which fuch wood has been 

 reduced by prior caufes. The ^lifleminated feeds finding a 

 proper bed, or nidus, like the muftiroom, toad-ftool, &c. fix 

 there their abode, and pervade the whole fubftance, thus ac- 

 celerating the general law of Providence, which tends lo make 

 all matter re-produdive. 



Cellars, or fuch other places, fiiould be drained in the man- 

 ner I have above mentioned, by taking off the percolating 

 water, prior to its gaining admiffion to or contad with the 

 walls ; and it is probable that, in moft cafes, a tingle drain 

 will have complete effect ; it would afTuredly do fo, if it was 

 not for the variation of the earth's internal ftrata, which are 

 not eafily difcernible. If attention to this rule was paid prior 

 to the building any new flreets in towns, it would prove ef- 

 fentially ufeful. 



I am, with efleem. 

 Dear Sik, 



Your's truly, 

 Leeds, June, 1803. R. RAMSDEN BRAMLEY. 



To Mr. Charles Taylor. 



The Society have been informed, that mortar made of lime 

 from burnt chalk is much more deftruflive to timber than ftone 

 lime, or that burnt from lime-ftone. Chalk lime attrafts moif- 

 ture; and communicating it to any timber which it touches, oc- 

 cafions its decay. 



Sea fand is alfo prejudicial, if made into mortar, from a 

 fimilar quality of attracting moifture from the atmofphere : this 

 may in forae degree be corredcd by walhing the fand well in 

 fretli water, where good fand cannot be procured. 



Good mortar, where any is required to be in conta6l with 

 limber, may be made from a mixture of ftone lime frefti burnt, 



and 



