that as the timber left the water it should pass directly to the heavy machines, such as timber frames or rack benches for breaking down; its further manipulation is thus at once made easier. As regards the best shape for a mill, where all ordinary classes of work, such as sawing, planing, moulding, &c., are performed we have found a rectangular building of a length of about two and a half times its width the most suitable shape.

If an engine and boiler is used to give the motive power, it should, if possible, be placed outside the main building. If placed inside the builing, it should be divided off from the rest of the machines. The whole of the main shafting should be arranged underground and run transversely across the building; it should be easily get-at-able for lubrication, removal of belts, &c. Underground chambers should also be provided for the reception of sawdust and shavings.

If the building is more than 100 feet long, three lines of shafting should be used, the last two shafts of which can be arranged to run at higher speeds if required. We have found a speed of about 250 revolutions per minute the most suitable for all ordinary wood-working operations. The various machines should never be crowded together, and if upper floors are used light machines with, if possible, a rotary motion should be fixed on them, as the constant vibration from some machines with a reciprocating motion has a tendency to damage and displace the joists and brick-work unless of very strong section. The shafting for an upper floor should be fixed at the roof of the ground floor. Adequate means for hoisting timber to this floor must be taken. A first-rate and rapid plan for carrying up deals is to arrange an endless

belt, some 9 inches wide and fitted with stop pieces, to run at an angle of about 45 degrees from the basement through a trap door to the floor above; by this means deals, &c., can be carried up as fast as they can be placed on the belt.

With the object of facilitating the conveyance of timber from on board ships, barges, or railway trucks directly to the various machines to be converted, or to the yard to be stacked, without the aid of manual labour, Mr. Samuel Boulton, of London, in the year 1868 took out letters patent. For this purpose the inventor proposed to construct in the timber yard and saw mill channels, conduits, shoots, troughs, or pipes containing water, either open or closed, and either sunk in the ground, laid upon or raised above it; these channels to lead from the water-side or other locality; the timber to be conveyed into such water channels from the vessel by means of endless chains or bands provided with dogs.

When the timber reaches the water channels, it can either be pushed along or conveyed by an established water current. Mr. Boulton decribes an elaborate arrangement of water channels, &c., designed to carry timber to any part of an establishment; but when we consider the numerous drawbacks to the scheme the discoloration, increased risk of cracking in the drying, the extra power required in sawing wet timber, &c.-we are afraid it cannot be held to be of much practical value, at any rate in this country.

All saw-mill floors, whether ground or otherwise, should be made of ample strength to withstand machine vibration or any load that may be placed on them. The ground floor should be built on piers, and

we have found joist floors the best form of flooring to use, as from their construction they resist successfully any excessive vibration. Where a single first floor is used and the bearing exceeds 10 feet, herring-bone strutting should be used.

As regards the most economical coal for the production of steam much has been written. Of course the heat evolved from the combustion of different samples of coal differs very considerably, the carbon varying from 75° to 95°. We prefer, on the whole, some samples of South Wales steam coal we have used to any other.

Sawdust and wood refuse, if mixed with a little tar or bituminous coal, makes a very fierce fire, but should be used with care, or burnt boiler-plates will be the result.

Owing to the daily increasing competition in the conversion of wood from Norway, Swéden, and even America, who export largely to this country manufactured joinery of all kinds, English makers have at present, and will in the future have greater, difficulty in successfully holding their own. The success of this competition in the case of Norway and Sweden must be attributed to the abundance of the crude material and the cheapness of labour. This is otherwise as regards America, as, although timber is cheaper, wages are considerably higher. This can in a measure be explained by the much greater facilities offered in America to inventors to protect even the smallest improvement in the constructional details of labour-saving machinery. In this country, on the contrary, owing to the high cost of letters patent, a workman has no incentive to improve the smaller details of a machine, which tend so much to its productive efficiency, and, unless an idea

is strikingly original, invention does not pay. In fact, in England brains often have to seek money to carry out their ideas, whilst in America money seeks the brains. This, however, by the way.

Supposing the mill to be ready for receiving the machinery, and the particular branch of wood conversion or manufacture decided on, the next and very important step is to obtain that machinery which is best and more especially suited to execute with rapidity and economy the work required. The selection of the requisite machinery is a matter of the highest importance, and, unless very judiciously undertaken, an investor may find himself saddled with a lot of costly and elaborate machinery ill adapted to his wants.

Care should be taken that the machinery selected should combine high-class workmanship and material, the greatest amount of productive efficiency with the least amount of complication. The so-called 'cheap' machinery must be held to be dear at any price, the difference in first cost being rapidly counterbalanced by constant breakdowns and loss of time, often coupled with inferior work. The price of a really high-class, labour-saving machine should always be a secondary consideration.

When the necessary machinery is arranged, the very important question of how to employ it economically and profitably presents itself. As regards the labour employed in directing the conversion of wood by machinery, the highly skilled and highly paid workman is as a rule the cheapest, the first difference in cost being soon counterbalanced by an increased output from the machine and of better average quality. Where a steady and uniform business of a certain class

is carried on, we are strongly in favour of piece work. Much has been written for and against this system, but as far as our experience extends a man is rarely or never found who will perform the same amount of work whilst working by the day or hour as he will whilst on piece work. Piece work, which, by the way, should never be carried to excess, also encourages diligence and energy, and the skilful workman thereby reaps in wages his just value. Of course in some high classes of work it is very difficult to introduce piece work with advantage, but for the vast majority of wood manufactures it is undoubtedly the true system.

Of course in piece work workmen have the greatest interest in completing work with all possible speed. Care must therefore be taken that it is not allowed to be 'scamped,' and on no account should the quality of the finish and detail be sacrificed to quantity of output. Piece work has also the additional advantage of offering a premium to the operator, of keeping his machine and tools in constant use and in the highest state of efficiency.

Care should be taken that all machines are set at a dead level both horizontally and transversely, and are free from excessive vibration when in work, and adequate means taken for transporting rapidly and with little manual labour the required timber. Where many saws, either circular or straight, are in use, a machine for sharpening should invariably be employed.

The wood prepared on a saw bench for mouldings should always be cut feather-edged or to a bevel, and the pieces of wood sawn off worked up into small mouldings. It is astonishing even now the number of mill-owners who allow their machines to cut mouldings