1885.] 



CHIPS. 



4G7 



Fine Sugar Maples. — On the 

 grounds of William Alhui Richardson, 

 near Louisville, some sugar maples 

 measure 17 feet in circumference. 



Rhus. — This genus of trees and 

 shrubs has the reputation of being 

 highly poisonous, but it should be 

 known that all the species are not so. 

 R. trifoliata^ for instance, produces 

 berries that are eaten and relished by 

 the Indians and hunters. The fruit of 

 R. aromatica is also eaten by the 

 natives not only without ill effects, but 

 with ])leasiire and benefit. They have 

 both a somewhat sour but agreeably 

 aromatic taste. 



Tynningham Horticultural So- 

 ciety's Show. — The annual show of the 

 above Society was held in the school- 

 room, Tynningham, on Saturday, .3rd 

 October. The exhibits in vegetables 

 were remarkably fine. The late period 

 at which the show was held precluded 

 the possibility of much in the way of 

 floral exhibits, but there was a keen 

 competition in window plants and in 

 hand bouquets, the latter being con- 

 fined exclusively to the ladies. 



Mulching Trees and Shrubs. — In 

 mulching newly-planted trees, or those 

 set for some years, we not only prevent 

 suffering for want of moisture during 

 the dry weather in summer, but enable 

 them to obtain those elements which 

 they require for nourishment and 

 gi'owth. In selecting a material for 

 mulch, one of a fibrous nature, or at 

 least one that will not become compact 

 and hard, after being beaten some by 

 heavy rains, is always preferable to any 

 other. The more plant food the mate- 

 rial contains the better, and for this 

 reason coarse litter from the stable or 

 farmyard has no superior for this pur- 

 pose. Meadow hay may be ranked 

 next in value, then straw, corn stalks, 

 bog hay from low lands, and thence 

 downward in the scale to pine or bass- 

 wood shavings and sawdust. Almost 

 any material that will shade the surface 

 of the soil and admit air and water will 

 prove of great benefit to newly-planted 

 trees, and frequently restore to health 

 the old and feeble or those stunted ia 

 growth from lack of moisture at the 

 roots, and those fertilizing elements 

 that can only be absorbed and utilized 

 when presented in a liquid or gaseous 

 form. Even small stones may answer. 

 — American Agriculturist. 



Hornbeam Charcoal is highly 

 esteemed in France and Switzerland, 

 where it is preferred to most others not 

 only for forges and for cooking by, ])ut 

 for making gunpowder, the workmen 

 at the great gunpowder manufactory at 

 Berne rarely using any other. 



The Best Time to fell Fir Timber 

 is when the saj) begins to flow in the 

 spring. Peel the larch after felling, 

 and immerse the timber in water 

 during the summer months to set the 

 turpentine. Remove it from the water 

 when the heat of summer is over, and 

 place it to dry under protection from 

 weather, but well exposed to air, and 

 it may be relied upon never to warp 

 or spring, while its texture will be 

 hai'dened and its durability increased. 



The Durability of the Wood of 

 the Locust Tree and that of the 

 Oak has often been compared. In 

 France the wood of the former has 

 been proved to be superior to that of 

 the latter for the purpose of wheel 

 spokes and other purposes where 

 resistance of heavy strain and wear and 

 tear were required. The locust wood 

 is much used also on the Continent for 

 vine props and gate posts, and has 

 been found to last in the latter position 

 for upwartls of forty years. 



The Wood of Ailantus glandu- 

 LOSA is, in the opinion of American 

 lumbermen, much more valuable than 

 it has been usually regarded by us in 

 this country. Indeed, here the tree 

 is grown almost exclusively for orna- 

 mental planting, and without any 

 purpose of commercial interest entering 

 into the calculations of the planter. 

 It appears in America, however, to be 

 regarded as one of the very best 

 timbers for fencing, for that purpose 

 being quite equal to locust wood and 

 also about equal to oak as fuel. 



A NEW " everlasting " wood pavement 

 has been brought out in France. The 

 wood blocks are boiled in a solution of 

 sulphate of copper, sulphate of zinc and 

 chloride of sodium, mixed with a heavy 

 mineral oil, linseed oil and tallow. The 

 blocks are afterward compressed to 

 about one-tenth their original volume. 

 In this state they are said to practically 

 defy wear and tear. 



