4

xi6 A DISCOURSE

Book IILyet is not of universal Use ’till it be duly prepared) has moved me to

t/YV design a solemn Chapter for the Seasoning, as well as to mention fom efarther particular Application of it. The first, and chiefest Use ofTimber, was doubtless for the building of Houses and Habitations tostielter Men in : It is in his Cap. i. Lib. ii. where Vitruvius stiews, inwhat simple and plain manner our first ‘Progenitors erected their hum-ble Cottages ; when, like those of Colchis and Phrygia , they began tocreep out of the subterranean and cavernous Rocks, and laid the firstGroundsl upon which they placed the upright Posts, and rudely frameda pointed Roof, Arbortbus perpetuis plants (on which the Criticshave vext their Researches) and from which mean Beginning, all thesuperb and pompous Effects of Architecture have proceeded : But topursue our Title, we have before spoken concerning some Preparationsof sanding Trees designed for Timber , by a half cutting, disbarking>and the Seasons of drawing and ufing it.

L. Lay up your Timber very dry, in an airy Place (yet out of theWind or Sun) and not standing upright, but lying along, one Piece up-on another, interposing some short Blocks between them, to preservethem from a certain Mouldiness, which they usually contract while theysweat, and which frequently produces a Kind of Fungus , especially ifthere be any sappy Parts remaining.

z. Some there are yet, who keep their Timber as moist as they can,by submerging it in Water , where they let it imbibe, to hinder thecleaving ; and this is good in Fir , both for the better snipping andseasoning ; yea, and not only in Fir, but other Timber : Lay there-fore your Boards a Fortnight in the Water (if running, the better, asat fome Mill-pond Head) and then setting them upright in the Sun andWind, so as it may freely pass through them (especially during th?Heats of Summer, which is the Time of finishing Buildings) turnthem daily, and j thus treated, even newly fawn Boards will Floor fasbetter than a many Tears dry Seasoning, as they call it. But to pre-vent all possible Accidents ; when you lay your Floors, let the Joyntsbe Jhot,. fitted, and tacked down only for the firs Tear, nailing themfor good and all the'Mftff ; and by this Means they will lie staunch, close,and without Jhr'mking in the least, as if it were all of one Piece; and up-on this Occasion s am to add an Observation , which may prove of n 0small use to Builders ; that if one take up Heal-boards that may havelain in the Floor an hundred Tears , and foot them again, they willcertainly shrink ( toties quoties) without the former Method. AmongstWheel-wrights the Water-season'tng (which hinders the exhaling osthe Alcaly Salt in it, causing the Hardness) is of ’special Regard, andin such Esteem amongst some, that I am assured the Venetians, for theirProvisioq iq the Arsenal, lay their Oak some Tears in it, before theyemplo'y ft. Indeed the Turks, not qxAyfell'zt all TinipS-of the Te^tywithout any regard to the Season , but employ their Timber green andunseasoned; so that though they have excellent Oak, it decays in a st 101 *Time by this only Neglect. - A_oi i. v ■ i>n :

Elm felled never so green for sudden Uses if plunged sour or ft® eDays in Water (especially Salt) which isibest, obtains an admirablySeaJbHbig, and may immediately be used.u I the ofiner insist on thisWater-Jeasoning ', not only as a Remedy against the Worm, but for it*Efficacy against Warping and ‘Disortions of Timber, whether usedwithin, or exposed to the Air. Some again commen Si Bury tugs in the

Earthy