114: FUEL. 



NOTE. It will be remarked that shellbark hickory is 

 made the standard in the above table, not only of the fuel 

 but also of the specific gravity, the value and specific 

 gravity of the other woods being determined by the pro- 

 portion they severally bear to this standard. The table 

 has a further use, namely, to determine the price that 

 should be paid per cord for other woods, taking the price 

 paid for shellbark hickory as the standard. For instance, 

 should shellbark be selling for $6.00 per cord, white oak 

 is worth $4.86 ; for, as 100, the value of shellbark, : $6.00, 

 its price, :: 81, the value of white oak, : $4.86, its price; 

 and other kinds in the same proportion. 



A cord of wood is 128 cubic feet; the sticks or billets 

 are cut 4 feet long and piled 4 feet high and 4 feet wide ; 

 8 feet in length making a cord. 



The wood-cutter has a measure of two feet marked on his 

 axe handle with which he measures the length of each stick, 

 making due allowance for the carf, or the bevel of the cut. 

 All fuel should, however, be sold by weight. 



When the weights of different woods are equal, that 

 which contains the most hydrogen will, during combustion, 

 give out the greatest amount of heat. Hence, pine is pre- 

 ferable to oak, and bituminous to anthracite coal. "When 

 w r ood is used as fuel it should be thoroughly dried, as in 

 its green and ordinary state it contains 25 per cent, of 

 water ; the heat to evaporate which is necessarily lost. To 

 kiln-dry it adds 12 per cent, to its value over seasoned wood. 



