56 College of Forestry 



better will be the product. It is also true that heart wood 

 yields much larger and better products than sap wood, and 

 body wood is much more desirable than limb wood. 



5. Efficiency of the plant. This is determined by the 

 character of the machinery and equipment, arrangement of 

 the apparatus and many other factors connected with the 

 efficiency of an operation. 



The products of hardwood distillation in New York State 

 are as follows : wood alcohol, acetate of lime, charcoal, wood 

 tar and wood gas. The latter two are practically always used 

 as fuel under the boilers or retorts. 



From an investigation of the 25 plants in New York State 

 it was determined that an average yield of 42.7 bushels of 

 charcoal are obtained per cord of wood from all of the plants. 

 There was a maximum yield of 50 bushels of charcoal per 

 cord and a minimum yield of 38 bushels. 



The average estimated yield of acetate of lime was 199.47 

 pounds per cord of wood. The minimum was 171 pounds and 

 the maximum 220 pounds. 



In wood alcohol the average yield was 9.9 gallons of 82% 

 wood alcohol per cord of wood. The minimum was 8 gallons 

 and the maximum 11 gallons per cord. 



It is estimated that between 23 and 28 gallons of wood 

 tar are secured per cord with an average of about 25 gallons. 

 It is estimated that about 11,500 cubic feet of gas are secured 

 per cord of wood. 



These figures are based upon the individual estimates of 

 the various wood distillation plants of the State. Altogether 

 much better yields are secured from the oven plants than 

 from the cylindrical retort plants. 



Value of Products. 



One of the greatest drawbacks to engaging in the wood 

 distillation business has been the great fluctuation in the price 



