232
THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
frequent references to this in ancient writings. Thus Noah's
instructions were "Make thee an ark of gopher wood : rooms
shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without
with pitch." Classical writers narrate that the astringent
properties of the oils expressed from olive, cedar, larch, juniper,
valerian and so on were used to preserve wood from decay and
from the attacks of insects. The magnificent statue of Zeus
by Phidias was erected in a damp grove at Olympus and the
platform on which it stood was therefore imbued with oil.
The famous statue of Diana at Ephesus was of wood and out-
lasted "all the seven times that the temple has been rebuilt."
Though its origin was generally assumed to be miraculous its
lasting qualities were possibly due to the fact that "by the aid
of numerous apertures it is soaked with nard, in order that the
moist nature of the drug may preserve the wood and keep the
seams close together."
It is safe to assume that dry rot must have been observed
in ships since the earliest days of navigation, but there appear
to be no ancient references to it as distinguished from shipworm
(Teredo).
Turning to historical times we find that in 1609 a naval
Commission of Inquiry appointed by James I, drafted a report
on the conditions of the Navy. "In buylding and repaireing
Shippes with greene Tymber, Planck and Trennels it is apparent
both by demonstration to the Shippes danger and by beate of
the Houlde meeting with the greenesse and sappines thereof
doth immediately putrefie the same and drawes that Shippe
to the Dock agayne for reparation within the space of six or
seaven yeares that would last twentie if it were seasoned as it
ought and in all other partes of the world is accustomed. Adde
hereunto experience at this day that many Shippes thus brought
in to be repaired, subject to miscareinge upon employment,
and besides they breed infection among the men that serve
in them." The Commission advised that timber be "seasoned
in water to sucke out the sappe and after dryed by the ayer and
sonne and pyled uppe till thear be fit use of it." This sound
advice was ignored and "fleet after fleet rotted prematurely."
In these days when a warship may be out of date before
she is launched it is often overlooked that there was no such
rapid change in the time of wooden ships : there was really