On supporting science journalism
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Being a subscriber to your truly valuable paper, I take the liberty of addressing you upon a subject of much importance to me, and perhaps to many others, to wit: the proper time for cutting carriage timber and the reasons therefor—hickory, ash, and white oak ; there is great diversity of opinion here in regard to the proper season, among men of the best judgment; the worms here eat a great deal of our best timber before it is seasoned, even betore it is barked. I have often noticed the superior quality of the timber in the Troy coaches; have you any correspondents in that quarter that can give the information and the philosophy ot it, when it should be cut, that the worms will not spoil it, and at the same time contain the greatest amount of strength and durability? Your article in the last volume of the Scientific American, on Ship Timber, did not cover the ground, nor did it contain the information I am seeking. [ yearly have much valuable timber lost by worms, and am now going to the fountain-head for the remedy. A large number of mechanics are interested in this information, and will be thankful, no doubt, to obtain all in their power. If you will please give it your most early attention you will greatly oblige many subscribers and rriendsI_J3Cery truly yours, Kichmond, Ind. R. L. [We should suppose that the winter was the best season to cut timber; we are not, however, in possession of facts to give the required information. We know, however, that the hickory, in the eastern part of New York State is altogether of a superior quality to that which grows in the western part. Climate and soil, may account for all the difference in the timber spoken of by our correspondent. Some of our correspondents will no doubt be able to give us the desired information for the benefit of our readers, as they have usually been kindly disposed to do.
