FROM WO(il> AM) COAL, ft 



which was set into a large tin funnel, and the water displaced 

 by the wood was conveyed by the latter into an eartheu vessel 

 placed underneath for itsYeception. The pieces of wood were 



taken separately, and into one end of each, a small awl was 

 inserted a sufficient distance to sustain the weighl of the stick. 

 and by which it could be accurately and expeditiously im- 

 mersed in the water. As the surface of the wood eould not 



be made impervious to water without a change in its hulk, il 

 became necessary to perform the operation with as much dex- 

 terity as possible: tin- wood, however, being perfectly dry, its 

 surface was covered with dust, which caused il to repel tin 

 water in the first instance, and I found it could he immersed 

 steadily, and vet with such facility, as to be left nearly dr\ 

 if shaken immediately on being withdrawn from the water, 

 and this was determined by the very slight addition which was 

 found to have been made to its weighl by the immersion. Foi 

 this addition to the weighl of the wood, the water used being 

 at 55° Fahrenheit, a correction was made and added to the 

 quantity of water displaced, although a partial compensation 

 may be considered to have taken place by the expansion pro- 

 duced in the wood in consequence of the absorption of thi^ 

 portion of the water. 



The water displaced was measured in a deep narrow ii'"i I. 

 provided with a sliding scale, fitted to is interior, lor tin pur- 

 pose, and found to he 'tti ', cubic inches, from which the quan- 

 tity of plenum, or solid dry wood, in a cord taken under the 



circumstances described, was found to lie 7 1 ^ cubic feet, leai ing 

 a deficiencv for the interstices and diminution in volume h\ 

 Irving of 5(>^ cubic feet. Thus, 



1 : 9 which ~- 1788=171 n %\\ cobii reel 



The method taken, it is supposed, will give the avei 

 quantity of combustible matter, in a cord of wood, as usually 

 sold, it being impossible for me to give a scale adapted to ev< rj 

 change in volume produced by the different degrees of humi- 

 dity, of which the woods are susceptible. 



The solid content of a cord of wood being known, if th< 



