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On Naval Timber and Arboriculture / With Critical Notes on Authors who have Recently Treated the Subject of Planting cover

On Naval Timber and Arboriculture / With Critical Notes on Authors who have Recently Treated the Subject of Planting

Chapter 8: NOTES TO PART I.
By Patrick Matthew
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About This Book

The work examines the selection, cultivation, and management of forest trees for shipbuilding and related arboriculture, combining practical guidance on forming planks and timbers, recognizing suitable British species, and techniques for pruning, nursery practice, planting, and preventing rot—especially in larch. It surveys dimensions and shapes needed for vessel construction, soil and drainage considerations, and methods to encourage desirable tree forms. The author also connects arboricultural practice to national maritime policy, arguing for trade reforms and better naval provisioning, and offers critical reviews of contemporary planting manuals and their recommendations.

NOTES TO PART I.

  • 4. Beech, suited for plank, is sometimes of more value when straight and of considerable length for the purposes of keel-pieces; for this the log requires to be from 30 to 70 feet in length, and at least of sufficient thickness at the small end to square a foot.

  • 5. These directions are generally applicable—as well for what may be required for being bent for compass-timbers, and for what may be used for land purposes, as for plank.

  • 6. There are several valuable varieties of apple-trees of acute branch angle, which do not throw up the hark of the breeks; this either occasions the branches to split down when loaded with fruit, or, if they escape this for a few years, the confined bark becomes putrid, and produces canker, which generally ruins the tree. We have remedied this by a little attention in assisting the rising of the bark with the knife. Nature must not be charged with the malformation of these varieties; at least, had she formed them, as soon as she saw her error she would have blotted out her work.

  • 7. Commencing by times, the greater part of training and pruning for plank, excepting in the case of dead branches, fractures, and last pruning, may be performed by a small knife.

  • 8. We are not in possession of sufficient facts to judge of the effect to hasten or deter decay occasioned by the timber having been softened in hot liquids of 212° or upwards, and not raised so high as to generate pyrolignous acid; but we think it must impair the elasticity.

  • 9. As excellent plank can be obtained by importation, the grower of naval timber ought to regard the production of crooks as a more patriotic occupation than the production of plank. It will generally pay better.