We could assist the non-professional reader by quoting the advice given by several architects (viz. Sir C. Wren, C. Barry, B. Smirke, W. Chambers, and W. Tite) relative to buildings, but there is a Danish proverb which, translated into English, runs as follows: “He who builds according to every man’s advice will have a crooked house.”
CHAPTER VII.
ON THE PRESERVATION OF WOODEN BRIDGES, JETTIES, PILES, HARBOUR WORKS, ETC., FROM THE RAVAGES OF THE TEREDO NAVALIS AND OTHER SEA-WORMS.
“Perforated sore
And drilled in holes, the solid oak is found
By worms voracious, eaten through and through.”
Sir John Barrow.
As the destruction of timber by fungi has been called the vegetable rot, it may not be inappropriate to term the destruction of wood by various worms and insects, the animal rot.
We have four natural enemies to deal with: 1st, the dry rot, that attacks our houses, &c.; 2nd, the worms, or boring animals, which destroy our ships and harbours; 3rd, the rust, that eats our iron; and 4th, the moisture and gases, that destroy our stone.