2 16 Wheat Crops in England and America. [April, 



" There is much evidence to be found in books and in the expe- 

 rience of ship-builders, that sticks of timber cut in the end of sum- 

 mer, and seasoned only by this speedy action of the leaves, often 

 out-last winter-cut timber, which has had years of seasoning. 



"The naturalist Buffbn, after numerous experiments, carefully 

 made on a large scale, and continued through many years, arrived 

 at the conclusion that nothing contributes so much to the solidity, 

 and durability of timber, as completely stripping the trees of their 

 bark, some years — at least three, before they are to be felled. 

 This should be done in the spring, when the bark is most easily 

 separable. The tree continues to put forth leaves, and to expand 

 and mature them for several successive seasons. But as no new 

 wood can be formed, after the bark is removed, Buffbn supposed 

 that all the action of the leaves goes to add to the substance of the 

 wood previously formed.* It is thus increased in density and 

 weight; and he found universally, in the same kind of wood, 

 strength is proportional to weight. By this process, the sap-wood 

 was rendered as dry, hard and strong, as hard-wood, and in some 

 instances even stronger. Timber managed in this way was found 

 to be sometimes a fourth part stronger than that from trees in the 

 same forest, and in all other respects precisely similar, treated in 

 the usual way; that is, felled with the bark on, and dried under 

 the open sky or under sheds." 



We have been rather full in our extracts from the introduction 

 to the report. We have been induced to do so because the whole 

 subject bears so closely upon our own article, but occupies so 

 large a part of this number, and besides it seems to us that the 

 parts given are highly important and will be read with profit by 

 our patrons. 



COMPARATIVE VIEW OF RAISLNG A CROP OF WHEAT 

 IN ENGLAND AND AMERICA. 



BY C. N. BEMENT. 



In looking over the 12th vol., of the " Farmers' Magazine," 

 published in London, I find the total cost of raising an acre of 

 wheat and sending it to market, is stated at ^612 15s 6d sterling. 

 This estimate allows the tenant for his labor £\ 16s sterling. 

 The gross product of the acre for wheat, straw feed, &c., is stated 

 at j612 1 Is. The value of the wheat is stated at 52 per quarter. 



This statement shows us that the United States is a natural re- 



* This it probably does by appropriatina: the substance destined for new 

 layers of wood, to lining and filling up the cells or tubes, of which woody 

 fibre is composed. 



