having afterwards discovered some inaccuracy in the process, the result was never noticed.

To meet the experiment in a satisfactory manner, Fig. 4, on Plate II, is introduced. The engraving is made directly from the end of a Larch board, which has been some years in my possessión. A shews the core of the wood, and the origin of a branch: B the part which was the outside of the tree, when the branch died, and likewise, some remains of the woody part of it. The dark part, C to C, is the cavity made in the wood, by inclosing the branch with the bark upon it, after it was dead; part of the latter still remaining in it, as the saw has accidentally gone exactly in the line between that and the wood. If we count the annual circles of the wood, or curved lines, we find it remained in that state, at least thirty two years upon the tree; but how much longer we cannot say, as

sap

the board has not all the left upon it.It must have been SOUND all the time, otherwise the pressure of the wood, in enclosing, would have displaced it; and from its size, it could not be otherwise than most of it SAP.-It is likewise worthy of remark, that the board is from the root end of the tree; the situation of the branch having evidently been within a foot of the ground, and of course, more exposed to moisture, than one more elevated.The board will be left with the publisher, for the inspection of the curious*

Thirdly, Larch is much less liable to shrink than Foreign Deal.-It is well known that the latter is exceedingly liable to that defect, in the first instance; and the Joiners tell us, that when a board

*Though the engraver has done great justice to this subject, the board itself exhibits the matter much clearer. If this sort of proof do not work conviction, we shall despair of demonstrating any thing.

of it has been twenty years in use, if planed over again, it will again shrink: but not so with Larch: for, if well dried at first, it never shrinks at all.

I had a Desk and Bookcase made of it five years ago, every joint of which is now as good as when put together, though the room where it stands is rather damp, except when a good fire is kept, near to which it stands, which must be allowed to be a very trying circumstance. The workmanship was very good in the first place, and therefore left no room for deception on that head.

A piece of Larch Wood, split from the root end of a slab, was weighed at different periods. The tree having been cut down in August preceding, and sawn up a few days previous to the first weighing, gave the following results.