The National tribune., 1883-03-08

covers all its surface when young or the i'm
pervious corlzy bark which is found on it when
older. When a branch dies, these protecting
devices soon fall into decay, and the water, so
carefully guarded by the' living parts of the
plant, is wasted by evaporation. 1t is, there
fore, advisable to promptly remove all dead
branches from fruit and other trees.
TREES IN CITIES.
The utility of trees in cities is question
upon which opinions are varied. 1t is held by
some that the foliage excludes sun and air from
the dwellings and rOadways and the trees are
thus provocative of damp and mOulds. I'm
doubtedly these evils occur when trees are set
very close TO buildings; not only in cities, but
also III the country such evils exist; many of our
old country residences are so thickly embOwered
in foliage that a proper circulation of air Is I'M
possible and the result is damp walls, and fire.
quently mOss-covered paths. Such houses are
really not fitted for healthy habitatiOnS; it is
healthy TO have the sun to shine on the walls
of 4 house, at least for a portion of the day.
But trees temper the heat and serve as pro-
lection from dust, while the evaporation from
their leaves has a tendency to keep the air cool
and moist, and these qualifications are of great
value in cities. The roots Of trees have the
effect Of draining the ground by their absorp-
tion of moisture, and in this way they materl-
ally affect the dryncSs of cellar walls. The
best positions for trees in cities is on the sides
of the street, lust inside the curbstOnc, having
space between them and the building line of
not less than twenty feet. There are but few
cities where the streets are sufficiently wide to
secure these conditions, but in laying out town
and city sites ample space should be provided
for streets and trees so that the cooling and
sanitary uses of trees may he obtained without
incuIring the evils of Overshadowed dwellings.
RAMIE AND JUTE FIBERs.
About sixteen years ago the United States
Department of Agriculture imported and dis
tributed quantities of Jutc and Ramic seed,
but, although great success attended the growth
of the plants. it was found that no machinery
existed for the preparation of the fibers for
commercial purposes. and therefore there WAS
10 encouragement to continue their culture.
From time to time since these efforts, announce
meuts have appeared of perfected machinery
adapted to the utilization of these tibeTS; bat
these announcements en- to have been pre-
mature; at all events ro practical value has
been obtained from any OF the machines as =
means OF developing profitable industry. 1t
is now announced that iute machine, invented
by Mr.. T. Albcc Smith, Of St Louis, has been
tested in that city, aad'was found to work sue
cesstully, completely separating the fiber from
the woody stem of the plant. The report states
that hardly silver of wood remained among
the ribbons Of fiber. and wherever piece was
found il was wholly detached and easily shaken
oUt. The machine delivered the fiber straight
and untangCd. while travelling belts carried
away the woody fragments and lett them in Il
heap by themselves. 1t appears that the gum
which holds the jute fiberS together, similar TO
the gum in New Zealand flax, is easily soluble
i'll water, and this process is easily accomplished
after the woody matter is separated by the
machine. 1t thus appears that a new and prof
liable industry is shortly TO be developed.
OIL FROM PINE WOOD.
In France a new industry has started in the
extraction and applications of oils from pine
wood. These oils are of two sorts-t:rst, Il
heavy oil, obtained by distilling the rcsinouS
wood at low temperature, and which is used
for painting; and, second, a light oil for llu-
mination, got by distlling in special apparatus
and purified with chemical agents. This light
oil has the same chemical composition as oil of
turnpentine, and distils ut the same tempcra-
ture. As it does not emit VapprS except at
high temperature its use for lighting purposes
is quite safe. Its luminous intensity is greater
than that Of petroleum. Roots and old stumps
OF pine, formerly considered yalueleSs, are now
made to render considerable uu3nfit ipS of oil