FROM WOOD AM) ( it VI.. J J 



in this country to substitute anthracite conk have proved m. 

 tory; and, as equally unsuccessful results have attended the nu- 

 merous and well conducted experiments, which have been 

 made in England. Ireland, and Wales, to substitute anthracit. 

 coals for coak, in the same important process, it become* a 

 matter of national interest, that our forests, intended for thii 

 purpose, should not be unnecessarUy wasted by conducting the 

 charring process in an improper manner, and this can onli 

 be ascertained by first knowing the positive quantity of carbon 

 contained in the different woods, from which we shall be able 

 to determine whether any improvements can be made in the 

 process. 



Various methods have been adopted by different experi- 

 menters on this subject; that most generally used appears to 

 have been charring the woods in dry sand; but 1 found thi> 

 objectionable, as the finer portions of the sand were liable to 

 enter the interior of the coal, if it had any fissures, and the 

 weight of the product was too large, while on the other hand, 

 the interstices between the particles of sand were found to 

 admit sufficient air to consume part of the coal, and the pro- 

 duct in consequence of this combustion was liable to be found 

 too small. To obviate both these objections, pulverized char- 

 coal, known to have been perfectly charred and dry, was sub- 

 stituted for sand, having ascertained that it could be aimed 

 entirely shaken oul of the fissures in the coal, and that, should 

 any remain, the error would he immaterial. The pieces of 

 wood were closely packed in it. and presented an inch in thick 

 uess of powdered coal between the sides and bottom of tin 

 crucible and tike wood, and about three Inches of powdered 

 coal on the top of the wood, the whole being com red by an 

 inverted crucible luted down. In this latter crucible a small 

 orifice only being made, any air, therefore, whieh should enter 

 through the pores of the crucible or the apt rture at top. would 

 In decomposed before it could reach tin wood in the interior, 

 and the air which may In supposed I" have existed between 

 the interstices of the powdered coal, or in the coal itself in tin 

 Hist instance, would also he decomposed and rendered inert 



