
audiobook
PREFACE.
ILLUSTRATIONS.
A TREATISE ON DRY ROT IN TIMBER. - CHAPTER I. ON THE NATURE AND PROPERTIES OF TIMBER.
CHAPTER II. ON THE GRADUAL RISE AND DEVELOPMENT OF DRY ROT.
CHAPTER III. FELLING TIMBER.
CHAPTER IV. ON SEASONING TIMBER BY NATURAL METHODS, VIZ. HOT AND COLD AIR; FRESH AND SALT WATER; VAPOUR; SMOKE; STEAM; BOILING; CHARRING AND SCORCHING, ETC.
CHAPTER V. ON SEASONING TIMBER BY PATENT PROCESSES, ETC.
CHAPTER VI. ON THE MEANS OF PREVENTING DRY ROT IN MODERN HOUSES; AND THE CAUSES OF THEIR DECAY.
CHAPTER VII. ON THE PRESERVATION OF WOODEN BRIDGES, JETTIES, PILES, HARBOUR WORKS, ETC., FROM THE RAVAGES OF THE TEREDO NAVALIS AND OTHER SEA-WORMS.
CHAPTER VIII. ON THE DESTRUCTION OF WOODWORK IN HOT CLIMATES BY THE TERMITE OR WHITE ANT, WOOD-CUTTER, CARPENTER BEE, &c., AND THE MEANS OF PREVENTING THE SAME.
This volume brings together decades of expertise on the silent menace that threatens wooden structures. Drawing on papers from England, America, France, and Germany, the author weaves together observations from builders, timber merchants, and carpenters into a single, readable narrative. The result is a clear, well‑organized guide that explains how dry rot begins, spreads, and can be identified before it compromises a building’s integrity.
Beyond theory, the work offers practical advice for anyone responsible for maintaining timber—whether a homeowner, contractor, or heritage conservator. Detailed illustrations show the stages of decay, the anatomy of heart‑wood versus sap‑wood, and the tools once used to treat afflicted beams. By presenting both successful remedies and documented failures, the book equips listeners with the knowledge to spot early signs and consider effective prevention strategies without overwhelming technical jargon.
Full title
A treatise on the origin, progress, prevention, and cure of dry rot in timber : $b with remarks on the means of preserving wood from destruction by sea worms, beetles, ants, etc. With remarks on the means of preserving wood from destruction by sea worms, beetles, ants, etc.
Language
en
Duration
~9 hours (518K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Chris Curnow and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)
Release date
2017-09-13
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

Best known for a detailed 19th-century study of timber decay, this practical writer brought together science, building knowledge, and hard-earned professional experience. His work remains a curious window into Victorian engineering problems and the care of wood in buildings and ships.
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