56 



These areLombardy poplar— lowest, white pine, Jers&y pine and irhite hirch ; 

 which stand respectively: 40, 42, 48, 48— poplar being the lowest on the 

 list, while the pines are above, both in density and proportion in charcoal. 

 We have extracted from that table twenty-six kinds of the woods, all of 

 which, with two or three exceptions, exist as natives of this state, and those 

 have some corresponding wood. By the use of this table the values of our 

 own woods may be discovered For example, we desire to know the value of 

 our black jack oak. It will be found to correspond with the pin oak of the 

 table, and stand at "71 ; ' and basswood must be placed next to tulip tree, and 

 be about 50, or one-half the value of hickory. 



Although Mr. Bull appears to have prepared his table with great care ; yet 

 very many will doubt if sugar-maple is placed in its true piositton either as re- 

 gards its specific gravity or quality as a heat-producing wood ; in as much as 

 in the public, estimation it is held nearly equal to hickory. This disparity 

 may be readily accounted for by supposing that the specimens experimented 

 upon by him were cut wh^n the tree was in full flow of sap, and that it had 

 been exposed to the action of the elements, until decomposition had com- 

 menced, as it readily does. This idea is confirmed by the fact that sugar 

 maple charcoal ranks higher than any northern wood, and as compared with 

 hickory coal it is 114 to lOO. 



Greenwood also contains water in different pjoportions, both as to kinds 

 of wood, and different specimens of the same kind. This amouat is some- 

 times as high as fifty per cent. A difference also exis-ts as to the qualities of 

 the water contained in the wood, as to its capability of being expelled by 

 seasoning; thus the- acidulous properties of red oak will not permit it to be- 

 come completely dried by mere action of the air ; and, therefore, it fre- 

 quently happens that wood placed high in a table of values of fuel, based on 

 woods thoroughly kiln-dried, ought in actual practice to be placed miioh 

 lower in a table for every day use. 



