TIMBER AND TIMBER TREES. [chap. 
.316 
working it up, and to give it simply that protection when 
‘brought into use which all other materials require to keep 
them from perishing. It need not be too soon varnished, 
painted, or coated with any preservative compound 
whatever, but be allowed to undergo after conversion a 
further short process of the natural seasoning before this 
is done. Its durability will be thus insured much more 
■effectually than if desiccating, charring, or some other 
hastening process of seasoning had been resorted to, for 
the sake of bringing it into earlier use after being felled. 
My experience of the approximate time required for 
seasoning timber under cover, and protected from wind 
and weather, is as follows :— 
Pieces 24 ins. and upwards square, Oak, require about 26 mths. Fir, 13 mths. 
Under 24 ins. 
to 20 ins. 
) > J > 
>> 22 ,, 
» 11 
> > 20 ,, 
16 ,, 
?> ) J 
„ 18 ,, 
» 9 
» 16 „ 
12 ,, 
» » >> 
5 > 1 4 > > 
,, 7 
12 ,, 
8 „ 
? > 1 > 
„ 10 „ 
» 5 
!> S ,, 
4 „ 
» 6 » 
» 3 
Planks from one-half to two-thirds the above time, 
according to the thickness. 
If kept longer than the periods named, the thin fine 
shakes which first open upon the surface during the 
process of seasoning will open deeper and wider, until 
they possibly render the logs unfit for conversion. If, 
however, the logs be reduced to the scantlings required 
after partial seasoning, and then further allowed to dry, 
they will not be liable to tear open so much, but by 
shrinking gradually will retain a more solid form, and be 
less objectionable to the eye when placed in position. 
The table showing the time necessary for seasoning 
the various scantlings must be qualified by the con¬ 
sideration that in the case of any foreign timber that will 
float, the foresters and raftsmen, while transporting it to 
