20 The Forest of the Ancients. 



posed all bodies: the more fire in the compositioii of a 

 wood, the more readily would it decay. Spruce being 

 composed of less earth and water, but more fire and air, 

 is therefore lighter than oak which, mostly composed 

 of earth, is therefore so durable; but the latter warps 

 and develops season splits because on account of its 

 density it cannot take up readily and resists the penetra- 

 tion of moisture. 



Wood impregnation, supposed to be a modern inren- 

 tion, was already practiced; cedrium (cedar oil) being 

 used as well as a tar coating or immersion in sea- 

 water for one year, to secure greater durability. 



While then the ancients were not entirely without 

 silvicultural knowledge, indeed possessed much more 

 than is usually credited to them, the need of a forest 

 policy and of a systematic forest management in the 

 modern sense had not arisen in their time; the mild 

 climate reducing the necessity of fuelwood and the 

 accessibility by water to sources of supply for naval and 

 other construction delaying the need for forest produc- 

 tion at home. 



There is little doubt, that some of the agricultural 

 and silvicnltural knowledge and practice of the Eomans 

 found entrance among the German tribes who, espe- 

 cially the Allemanni, came into contact with the Eomans 

 in their civilized surroundings during the fourth cen- 

 tury. 



