1831.] Influence of the Moon on the Sap of Trees , tyc. 
289 
VI. — Note on the Influence of the Moon on the Sap of Trees • and the 
proper time for felling Timber for Ship-building or other important 
purposes. By Captain Geo. Tvvemlow, Bengal Artillery. 
If an Indian wood-cutter were told to cut down timber during the time when 
the moon approached the full, or at any time when the sap was perceptibly up 
in the tree, he would say ‘ Maharaj, excuse me, do not order it so, the timber would 
be useless, and would soon be full of insects, and be subject to rot.’ In fact, 
nothing short of actual force would induce him to commit what he would consider 
a gross act of folly. 
The British legislature, with a view perhaps to secure the best bark for tanning, 
order Government timber to be felled when the sap is in the tree ; the consequence 
of which is, that ships built with such timber are in a few years subject to dry rot 
and to destruction by insects, whereas ships built in India of timber cut down when 
free of sap, are known to be far more durable. With reference to this subject it 
may be mentioned, that the writer of this paper had occasion some years ago, 
in his capacity of acting field engineer, to erect temporary sheds for the 
public stores of a division of the army about to cantoon ; time pressed and 
the rainy season approached ; he therefore gave orders to the head carpenter 
of the department to proceed forthwith into the jungle on the north bank of 
the Nerbuddah river, and to cut down a sufficient number of trees ; the carpenter 
protested against the measure, and alledged that the moon being nearly at the 
full, every tree cut down at that period of its increase, would assuredly be 
destroyed by the goon , or wood insect, and by rot. However his statement 
not being fully credited, and as time was valuable, the wood was felled before 
'he wane had commenced, to the astonishment of the natives, who all firmly 
believed that the timber would be worse than useless. And so it turned out, for 
»°°n after the roofs were finished, a white dust was observed to drop out ot the 
Ambers, and before the close of the year the roof fell in, and had to be rebuilt. 
ft will be found that the natives all over India invariably watch for the tune 
wlien the sap is out of the tree, both with reference to the moon, and to the season, 
and it is believed that to this in some degree is owing the prime quality ot the Indian 
teak and other woods ; though no doubt it is greatly attributable to the dry situa- 
tion in which the trees grow. 
Il may be interesting to ascertain what notions prevailed on this subject (so im- 
P 01 tint as regards the BritishNavy) amongst the ancient Romans ; we are inforn » 
,hat they had great regard to the age of the moon when felling timber for impor- 
tan t Purposes,— that they generally cut timber during the wane of the moon, 
never during the increase, or approach to full; because trees were then found most 
t0 a bound with sap, the chief source of putrefaction. # 
If bark i s essential in England for the tanneries, might it not be stripped o 
? 1116 tree is still standing, or particular trees be appropriated to that purpose . 
£ if ‘t should admit of proof that the best season for the bark is the worst or 
‘P timber, surely ships should not be sacrificed to good leather. 
mee the sap is the cause of rot, would it not be practicable in these uo 
“ Cs to draw out either by heat or properly constructed suction pumps, a 
0 ^ ’ anc * l * ien to force into the vacuated pores an infusion of charcoal and su j » 
a P ir ' ' ° l * ler P reser ving mixture which might have the effect of deterrm 0 
Ti * nsec t s > and of preserving the wood from rot ? 
v ' e Wr ft er of this paper has made inquiries regarding the practice pursued at 
Uc h on the Godavery river, where much timber is cut; he has been informe , 
