Archimedes Texts

28
Time to harden and to get a Kind of Matu
rity of Strength before it is applied to Use.
After it is thus prepared, Cato directs, that it
must not be brought out into the Air but in
the Wane of the Moon, and after Mid-day, and
even in the Wane of the Moon he condemns
the four Days next after the fisteenth, and pre
cautions us against bringing it out in a South
Wind. And when we bring it out, we must
take Care not to draw it through the Dew,
nor to saw or cut it when it is covered with
Dew or Frost, but only when it is perfectly dry
in all Respects.

What Woods are most proper for Building, their Natures and Uses, how they
are to be employed, and what Part of the Edifice each Kind is most fit for.

Theophrastus thinks that Timber is not dry
enough for the making of Planks, especi
ally for Doors, in less than three Years. The
Trees of most Use for Building were reckoned
to be these; the Holm, and all other Sorts of
Oaks, the Beech, the Poplar, the Linden, the
Willow, the Alder, the Ash, the Pine, the Cy
press, the Olive, both Wild and Garden, the
Chesnut, the Larch Tree, the Box, the Cedar,
the Ebony, and even the Vine: But all these
are various in their Natures, and therefore must
be applied to various Uses. Some are better
than others to be exposed without Doors,
others must be used within; some delight in
the open Air, others harden in the Water, and
will endure almost for ever under Ground;
some are good to make nice Boards, and for
Sculptures, and all Manner of Joyner's Work;
some for Beams and Rafters; others are stronger
for supporting open Terrasses, and Coverings;
and the Alder, for Piles to make a Foundation
in a River or marshy Ground, exceeds all other
Trees, and bears the Wet incomparably well,
but will not last at all in the Air or Sun. On
the contrary, the Beech will not endure the
Wet at all. The Elm, set in the open Air,
hardens extremely; but else it splits and will
not last. The Pitch Tree and Pine, if buried
under Ground, are wonderfully durable. But
the Oak, being hard, close, and nervous, and
of the smallest Pores, not admitting any Mois
ture, is the properest of any for all Manner of
Works under Ground, capable of supporting
the greatest Weights, and is the strongest of
Columns. But though Nature has endued it
with so much Hardness that it cannot be bored
unless it be soaked, yet above Ground it is
reckoned inconstant, and to warp and grow
unmanageable, and in the Sea-water quickly
rots; which does not happen to the Olive, nor
Holm Oak, nor Wild Olive, though in other
Things they agree with the Oak. The Mast
Holm never consumes with Age, because it's
Inside is juicy, and as it were always green.
The Beech likewise and the Chesnut do not
rot in the Water, and are reckoned among the
principal Trees for Works under Ground. The
Cork Tree also, and the wild Pine, the Mul
berry, the Maple, and the Elm are not amiss
for Columns. Theophrastus recommends the
Negropont Nut Tree for Beams and Rafters,
because before it breaks it gives Notice by a
Crack, which formerly saved the Lives of a
great many People, who, upon the falling of
the publick Baths at Andros, by Means of that
Warning had Time to make their Escape. But
the Fir is much the Best for that Use; for as it
is one of the Biggest and Thickest of Trees, so
it is endued with a natural Stiffness, that will
not easily give way to the Weight that is laid
upon it, but stands firm and never yields. Add
besides, that it is easy to work, and does not
lie too heavy upon the Wall. In short, many
Perfections, and Uses, and great Praises are as
cribed to this single Wood; nevertheless we
cannot disown that it has one Fault, which is,
that it is too apt to catch Fire. Not inferior
to this for Roofs, is the Cypress, a Tree, in
many other Respects so useful, that it claims a
principal Rank among the most excellent. The
Ancients reckoned it as one of the Best, and
not inferior to Cedar or Ebony. In India the
Cypress is valued almost equal with the Spice
Trees, and with good Reason; for whatever
Praises may be bestowed upon the Ammony or
Cirenaic Field Pine, which Theophrastus says is
everlasting, yet if you consult either Smell,
Beauty, Strength, Bigness, Straitness, or Du
ration, or all these together, what Tree can you
put in Competition with the Cypress? It is