ON THE CULTIVATION OF TREES. 315 



Mrs. B. The light which accompanies it, in a great 

 measure, atones for its deficiency of intensity ; but flame 

 must be considered as a species of luxury, in which those 

 only can indulge who do not aim at economy in fuel. 

 The greatest quantity of heat is given out when the wood 

 burns red, without flame ; consequently, the wood which 

 has the fewest volatile parts producing flame, and the 

 greatest quantity of carbon, producing red heat, is the most 

 valuable for fuel. Here is a list of the various proportions 

 of carbon contained in equal quantities of wood of differ- 

 ent species : 



Oz. of Carbon, Oz. of Carbon, 



the Cubic Foot. the Cubic Foot. 



Black fir 86 Beech . . 64 



Red fir . . .84 Pear . . . 54 

 Evergreen Oak . 69 Birch 

 Box . . 68 Willow . . 27 



Oak ... 60 Poplar . . 



I have already mentioned the danger incurred by strip- 

 ping trees of their bark, in order to harden the wood, by 

 forcing the cambium to descend through it. This mode 

 is, however, sometimes attended with success, provided 

 that it be performed only the spring previous to the trees 

 being felled ; and that the naked tree be charred or slightly 

 burnt, as a substitute for the covering of which it has been 

 deprived, and a preservative against the inclemency of the 

 weather. 



Caroline. That is to say, that the wood is burnt to save 

 it from suffering from wet ! I should really think, the rem- 

 edy worse than the disease. In travelling in Italy, I re- 

 collect seeing such miserable flayed and blackened trees, 

 looking as if they had been put to various species of tor- 

 ture before the executioner came with his axe to strike 

 the final blow. 



Emily. They reminded me rather of poor naked sav- 

 ages, smeared and tattooed as a substitute for their defi- 

 ciency of clothing. 



Mrs. B. Why should you not compare them to sheep 



1702. What is said of the burning of wood so as to produce the great- 

 est quantity of heat 1 ? 1703. What is the comparative quantity of car- 

 bon contained in different kinds of wood 1 ? 1704. When is the strip- 

 ping the bark from trees attended with success 1 1705. What does 

 Caroline say she has seen in Italy of this description 1 ! 1706. Of what 

 does Emily say this reminds her! 



