CURE OF THE DRY ROT, .f^ 



molflure, as to require a regular expofure to the air, prior to Fafts and obfer- 



its being applied to ufe, if we wilh to guard againft that fhrink- ^^''""^ concern- 

 , . , , , , , ,• -I iBgthedryrotm 



mg which always takes place, where this precaution has not timber, and its 



been taken. ^^^^- 



Although the fir kind contains lefs of this watery portion, 

 yet it afluredly pofTefTes a confiderable (hare ; and it is in this 

 fpecies, I apprehend, that the evil called the dry rot moft ge- 

 nerally occurs, as from the facility of working the fame, it is 

 mofl generally applied in buildings. 



But fuppofing it to be fir, or any other fpecies ; wood felled 

 when abounding with any extra proportion of fap, and applied 

 to ufe without the proper feafoning or expofure to a free current 

 of air, until fuch extra moifture as has had time to exhale, is 

 moft liable to the difeafe in queftion ; and the cure, or principal 

 prevention againft it, would be the precaution of felling all 

 wood only at the proper feafon, or when the fap is not in cir- 

 culation. The next mode of prevention would be to ufe fuch 

 wood only as has been for a confiderable period expofed to the 

 influence of a free current of air, or where convenience will 

 edmit, to that of air heated to a moderate degree ; fuch air ex- 

 tradting with greater facility the inclofed moifture, and in a 

 more certain ratio than the irregularity of our atmofphere will 

 allow. 



In all rapidly-improving countries, this evil is likely to be an 

 increafing one, as the current demand for wood generally ex- 

 ceeds the fupplies laid by in ftore, fo as to be applied to ufe in 

 regular fucceffion, after being properly feafoned. 



Another caufe that affeds all wood moft materially, when 

 not fully dried, is the application of paint, the nature of which 

 prevents all exhalation, and confines the inclofed moifture, till 

 it occafionsa fermentation through the whole fibrous fyftem of 

 the wood, and brings on a premature ftate of decompofition, 

 or the dry rot. 



A fimilar evil may be induced, in confequence of any newly- 

 finiflied building having all the doors and windows (hut up, and 

 that for fome length of time, particularly in moift weather. 

 The wood, even though unpainted, is thus frequently placed 

 in an atmofphere more charged with vapour than its own inter- 

 nal contents, and is confequently in an imbibing inftead of an 

 exhaling ftate, and tending to decay. Wood placed in damp- 

 ith fituations, and the ends of timbers near lo moift walls, fuffer 

 from fimilar caufes. 



What 



