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A DISCOURSE

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BookIII. Trees an evident Interstice, or Separation, between the Heart and therest of the Body , which renders it much more obnoxious to decay andmiscarry, than when they are treated and converted asl have describedit; and it would likewise save a world of Materials in the Buildingof great Ships, where lo much excellent Timber is hew’d away tospoil, were it more in Practice. Finally, _

7. I must not omit to take Notice of the Coating of Timber in IVork,used by the Hollanders, for the Preservation of their Gates, ‘Port-cullises, Draw-bridges, Sluices, and other huge Beams and Consig-nations of Timber exposed to the Sun, and perpetual Injuries of theWeather, by a certain Mixture of Pitch and Tar, upon which theystrew small Pieces of Cockle, and other Shells, beaten almost to Powder,and mingled with Sea-sand , or the Scales of Iron, beaten small andfisted, which incrujls , and arms it after an incredible Manner againstall these Assaults and foreign Invaders: But if this should be deensdmore obnoxious to firing , I have heard that a Wajh made of Ælum, haswonderfully protected it against the Assaults even of that devouringElement, and that so a wooden Tower or Fort at the Piraum , anAthenian Port , was defended by Archelaus , a Commander of Mithrt-dates, from the great Sylla: But you have several Compositions sotthis Purpose in that incomparable Treatise of Naval Architecture,written in the LowADutch by N Witsen , Chap. vi. Part i. TheBook is in Folio , and he that should well translate it into our Language(which I much wonder has not yet been done) would deserve well ofthe Publick.

8. Timber that you have occasion to lay in Mortar, or which is inany Part contiguous to. Lime, as Doors, Window-Cases, Groundfils,and the Extremities of Beams, &c. have sometimes been capped withmolten Pitch, as a marvelous Preserver of it from the burning and de-structive Effects of the Lime ; but it has since been found rather to heatand decay them, by hindering the Transudation which those Parts re-quire; better supplied'with Loam orStrewings of Brick-dufi, or Piecesof Boards some leave a small Hole for the Air. But though Lime beso destructive whilst Timber lies thus dry, it seems they mingle it withHair , to keep the Worm out of Ships which they /heath for SouthernVoyages ; though it is held much to retard their Course : Wherefore thePortugueze scorch them with Fire, which often proves very dangerous;and indeed their Timber being harder, is not so easily penetrable ; andtherefore have some been thinking of finding out'some tougher Sorts ofMaterials, especially of a bitter Sap; such as is reported to be theWoo-d of a certain Indian Pear : And some talk of a Lixivium to dothe Feat; others of. a pitchy Substance to be extracted out of Sea-co^ibut nothing has yet been found more expedient, than the late Apph ca 'tion of thin Lamins of Sheet-lead, if that also be no Impediment t0their sailing: However, there are many Kind of Woods in the Wefic rn ~Indies (besides the Acajou) that breed no Worms, and such is thewhite Wood of Jamaica, proper enough to build Ships. In the meanTime, let me not omit what the learned Dr. Lifier, in his Notes up° nGodarius of Infills, fays, That he is-persuaded there could not be amore probable- Expedient to discover what Kind of Timber were belfor Sheathing , than to tie certain polished Pieces of Wood (cut likeTallies) to a Buoy, in some Waters and Streams much inserted with theWorms ; for that Sort-of Wood which the Worm should refuse, would

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