THE EXHIBITION AT PARIS. 105 



could not be made use of underground by reason of their speedy de- 

 cay, are rendered incorruptible ; and thus by using these quickly-grow- 

 ing woods, the procuring of sleepers is facilitated. There were shown 

 to the Jury sleepers of Beech, Alder, Birch, and Fir, which had been 

 for nine years underground, and yet were not rotten ; likewise poles 

 for the telegraph and for vineyards. 



Dr. Boucherie has received, in acknowledgment of his discovery, the 

 Order of the Legion of Honour and the great Gold Medal. 



Among the most remarkable objects in the Exhibition were the 

 machines used for manufacturing of barrels. The contrivance is very 

 ingenious; a series of five machines, which require 10-horse power, 

 produce, from a block of oak, a complete barrel, which is so beautifully 

 made, nay, finished with such mathematical accuracy, as it never could 

 be by hand. The great advantage is this, that out of a circular block 

 so many staves are cut, that there is but five per cent, waste, every 

 piece being worked up ; even blocks, only a foot long, being used for 

 small barrels. The price of a barrel is hereby reduced to half the 

 former amount. The price of as many machines as would manufacture 

 annually 30,000 wine-casks (each to hold three eimer), including steam- 

 engine, but excluding buildings, is about 18,000 florins. 



To this Class (II.) of the Exhibition belongs the revenue obtained 

 from uncultivated plants, and the introduction and acclimatization of 

 new plants and animals. To the plants deserving to be introduced 

 belong, in particular, the forest-trees, especially Conifers, from the East 

 Indies and America, from which much may be hoped, and with which 

 the English make the fairest experiments. 



As regards the introduction of new fibres fit for weaving and ropes, 

 there are chiefly two which may thrive with us, viz. Urtica nivea, of 

 which the Chinese make their linen ; and Pkormium tenax, the New 

 Zealand Flax, which surely may be cultivated successfully in South 

 Hungary and Dalmatia. With Urtica nivea I tried experiments m 

 Slavonia, and it thrives there very well. Another day I shall have 

 the honour to produce a report on this subject. Further worthy of 

 notice for Austria are Myrica cerifera, which yields a vegetable wax, 

 and Arachis hypogaa, which yields an oil. In Pans -Society is esta- 



Hilaire 



animals 



great use. I 



VOL. IX. 



Committc 



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