l~/))tยข's c~/z~{ CumยขllcJlfS.
[J. F. l., that, in wooden ships, frequently, as many persans are wounded hy splinters as by shot.
A solution of the problem of finding a substitute ['or wood, seems, in the opinion of the board, to lie in the following direction :
'fake something in the natm'e of cheap wood or vegetable fibre and fine sawdust; treat them chemically with some insolulfle fire-proof substance, not too heavy ; then press and roll into boards, more or less dense, according to the use for which the material is desired. Such ." material will be non-inflammable all through, will not splinter, will not be heavy and will be a nonconductor, l'ossihlythis artiticial board can be strengthened bven~tlosing within iI a tough, fine, wire netting. If sawdust, or other fine cellulose material, after being rendered non-inflammable, can, by mixing with other materials not too heavy--or, if heavy, in small quantities--be applied to metal in a plastic state, so as to harden into a compact mass impervious to water, then it will be of great value, in other words, if a light, nor~conducting, non-inflammable, insoluble cement can be discovered, it will be of great use in ship construction.