420 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



In another point of view the amount of water is 

 important to be known, for the difference between 

 takino- green and dry wood to market, as well as 

 consuming, is very great ; and so, also, as ample 

 experience proves, there is a material difference in 

 burning green or dry wood. The quantity of wa- 

 ter varies from 20 to 50 per cent., and probably 

 the average amount will not differ from 35 to 40 

 per cent. This water is not only of no use to the 

 tire-wood, but it is prejudicial, as it must be dissi- 

 pated by heat, in which act heat or caloric be- 

 comes latent or lost, especially if the wood is con- 

 sumed upon a hearth or in a stove. 



In addition to the effect of water diminishing the 

 combustibility of wood, the alkalies have also con- 

 siderable influence of this kind. Elm, which is a 

 potash wood, burns with much less freedom than 

 hickory, which contains much lime. 



It is, however, possible that the size of the pores 

 of wood may modify its combustibility. Black oak 

 is a notable instance of a slow and drizzling com- 

 bustion ; the pores are large and numerous, from 

 which the watery sap continually oozes. 



In addition to the foregoing, we subjoin the fol- 

 lowing remarks from a letter written by Mr. Win. 

 Painter, of Concordville, Pa., to the Hon. Thom- 

 as Ewbank, of the patent office. AVe had intend- 

 ed the preparation of an article from our own ex- 

 perience and knowledge, in reference to the sub- 

 ject of timber cutting, but our design was super- 

 ceded by a perusal of the foregoing, and the letter 

 of Mr. Painter. 



"During an experience of more than forty years 

 as a plain, practical farmer, I have taken much 

 interest in ascertaining the best season for felling 

 timber, and I now state with confidence, that fenc- 

 ing timber, such as all kinds of oak, chestnut, red 

 hickory, and walnut, cut from the middle of July 

 to the last of August, will last more than twice as 

 long as when cut in winter, or common barking 

 time in spring. 



"For instance : — cut a sapling, say five or six 

 inches in diameter, for a lever, in the month of 

 August, and another of similar quality and size in 

 winter or spring. I know, if the first is stripped 

 of its bark (which at that time runs well,) it will 

 raise a lever twice the weight that can be raised by 

 the latter. 



"Another great advantage to be derived from 

 felling timber in the last running of the sap (the 

 time above specified,) is, that it is neither subject 

 to dry rot nor injury by worms ; white oak, cut at 

 this season, if kept off the ground, will season 

 through two feet in diameter, and remain perfect- 

 ly sound many years; whereas, if cut in winter 

 or spring, it will be perfectly sap-rotten in less 

 than two years. 



"For snip building and other purposes, where 

 great expense is incurred in construction, the im- 

 mense advantage of preparing timber at the prop- 

 er season must be evident to all. 



"I have no doubt, a ship built of timber cut be- 

 tween the middle of July and the last of August, 

 would last nearly twice as long as one built of tim- 

 ber cut at the usual time, and would bear infinite- 

 ly more hard usage, as the timber seasons more 

 perfectly, and is far harder. 



"A lew years since one of the large government 

 ships, built in Philadelphia, of the very best mate- 

 rials, but several years in construction, when or- 

 dered to be finished and launched, was found upon 



inspection to be entirely worthless in many of her 

 timbers (though kept under cover) of dry-rot. 



"In all my building for many years past, with 

 large timbers of white and other oak, this has 

 never occurred, nor are they subject to be worm- 

 eaten. 



"Even fire-wood cut at the proper season, is 

 worth from 30 to 50 per cent, more than when cut 

 in the spring or winter. 



"If the above facts are considered of any value, 

 please make use of them, and if those learned in 

 such matters can assign any plausible reason for 

 them, the theory may be of value to others as well 

 thy friend." — Union Artist. 



SPENT TAN. 



A writer in the Pennsylvania Farm Journal 

 sates that he has been using spent tan bark in his 

 garden with the best results. The soil on which 

 it was tried, was a " stiff clay — altogether too stiff 

 for successful gardening." The editor of the Jour- 

 nal sustains the opinion of his correspondent, in 

 some experiments made in his own garden. 



We have little faith in the use of spent tan bark 

 as a manure, but a good deal in using it in compact 

 soils, clay, and stiff loams. Chips from the bottom 

 of the wood pile, saw-dust, or any coarse litter, 

 would have much the same effect. The benefit 

 arises mostly from making a heavy soil, light and 

 porous — admitting air, warmth and light, and 

 bringing its fertilizing powers into activity. Such 

 heavy, inactive soils maybe found upon most farms, 

 where a judicious application of the tan bark and 

 other coarse and cheap materials, would bring 

 them into a productive state. But they need the 

 same careful attention that the merchant bestows 

 upon his affairs, in order to make any part fruitful 

 of profit. 



Let nothing, then, be lost — the washings by the 

 roadside, the tan bark, chip manure, brakes, leaves 

 and refuse meadow grass, will all have a fine in- 

 fluence upon the cold, compact soils. 





Butter. — The editor of the New York Farmer, 

 in a capital article upon the dairy, says that twen- 

 ty years ago good managers were content with 

 100 to 125 pounds of butter, per cow, for the year. 

 That the standard has been growing higher, until 

 now, the dairyman who makes less than 150 lbs. 

 is rather ashamed to name the quantity. In this 

 age of improvement, he adds, that 150 lbs. should 

 be the minimum, even of poor dairies, while no 

 good dairyman should be satisfied with less than 

 175 to 200 pounds. That is a pretty high stand- 

 ard ; but he mentions instances among his neigh- 

 bors that came nearly up to it. One, a dairy of 

 20 cows, where the average was 170 lbs. to a cow, 

 another 180 lbs., and another 197 lbs. 



(J3P We have received samples of the white 

 blueberry from Mr. J. S. Nekdiiam, of Panvers. 

 They are very sweet and delicious. Were they 

 cultivated'? 



