Diseases Of Timber

The diseases to which living trees are liable do not properly concern us here, but in as much as wood may be, and not infrequently is, brought into the market in a more or less damaged condition from diseases which affected it previous to felling, it is perhaps worth while to say a little about two or three of the diseases of living trees. The most common and destructive disease, in northern climates at any rate, and one which attacks the most widely-used timbers in this country, those of the conifers(any tree that has thin leaves needles and produces cones. Many types are evergreen. Pines, firs, junipers, larches, spruces, and yews are conifers. Order: Coniferales), is wet rot. This disease has been traced to various fungi by the brilliant and invaluable researches of Professor Hartig of Munich, who, with other distinguished German botanists, has done so much to enlarge our knowledge of timber trees and their proper management. I am immediately indebted for the notes given here, however, to the writings of Professor Marshall Ward, who has brought this subject in its true aspect before the English public. Wet rot is caused most frequently by a fungus which germinates in moist ground round the roots of a tree, and entering them, sends out a large number of long white filaments, which attack and feed first on the cambium cylinder, and next on the starch and other food materials in the cells of the medullary rays, ultimately sending a complete network of arms through every part of the heart-wood, and reducing it, by delignifying the walls of the tracheides, to a soft, moist, spongy mass, with no traces of the original properties of the wood. Of course this attack, commencing as it does from the base of the tree, rapidly kills it. Timber which has been partially destroyed by this parasite can be distinguished by its reddish or purple tint in places, or if the disease be very advanced, by dull, yellow, soft patches with clear white spots, having a small black speck in the middle of each. It is rarely seen, however, as advanced as this. Another fungus which is somewhat similar in its action, inasmuch as it attacks the roots of trees, is the Agaricus Melleus. Its distinctive features are, that it is able, by long sinuous branches, to spread indefinitely to the roots of neighbouring trees not actually in contact. This fungus is very common in this country, and may be detected by its fructification on and near the roots of trees, in the autumn. These fructifications appear as toadstools of a yellowish colour, with rings round their necks. The visible effect of this disease is to

give timber a bright yellow colour in places, in the midst of which are visible white patches. Beech is particularly affected by this disease. The familiar clinging, felt-like substance, of a yellow to deep brown colour, frequently seen on oak and other trees is a very destructive form of fungus, which, from this feltlike mass, sends out feeding shoots into the wood, and destroys it somewhat in the same manner as the other parasites described. Fortunately this fungus is only able to penetrate the tree where it has been previously wounded by some other agency. This disease is readily detected by the white filaments running in all directions in the timber, or, if only slight, by the brown patches which will appear, making the wood quite powdery to the touch. Of course many other parasites attack trees, and rot is occasioned by old age in addition; but if, in selecting timber, care be taken to reject such as may have any of the faults referred to, good wood will generally be obtained. Foreign timber is not often seen in a very advanced state of decay, as it is usually not shipped by the timber merchants when found affected. After timber is felled it is still very liable to diseases, of an equally serious character to those of living trees. One of the fungi which attacks cut timber is very liable to commence its ravages in any crack which the surface of the log may offer, even when yet in the forest, its effects being apparent, perhaps, only after months of storage in a timber yard. Streaks of brown or red colour, of moist, spongy nature, probably with patches of the white fungus itself, sometimes appear in boards, and are the result of this disease. Timber with this defect should never be accepted, as the fungus will spread and entirely spoil the whole of the wood, or any other sound timber with which it comes in contact. The exclusion by the woodman and the buyer of diseased living timber makes the defects already alluded to less frequently seen than would otherwise be the case. But a disease with which everyone is familiar, and to which even the soundest timber is liable, is the dry rot. This disease is due also to the ravages of a fungus which eats into and decomposes the wood. It can be readily discovered by the fine web of filaments running all over the surface of the wood, and, in cases of advanced disease, by felt-like patches on the surface of the timber. The great preventive and cure of dry rot is a free circulation of air. A damp, still atmosphere, such as is found in cupboards and cellars, is very liable to produce rot.

Even in these situations, if timber be thoroughly seasoned and quite dry before being used, and be kept dry, it is impervious to dry rot. The difficulty of keeping timber dry in spite of the exhalations from the earth in cellars and similar places is, however, usually found to be insuperable unless free ventilation is resorted to. Timber built into walls, like the ends of beams, is very liable to dry rot (really a very inappropriate name) because of the want of ventilation; and if the end of a beam projects through the wall, the moisture which is so necessary for the propagation of the disease is rapidly absorbed. One of the chief reasons for the dislike to sapwood evinced by tradesmen is its great liability to attack from dry rot, probably because its tissues contain more starch and other substances for the fungi to feed upon.

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