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tion. Those who had been building vehicles for years in Aus- 

 tralia, had not been accustomed to distinguish woods by terms 

 other than seasoned, unseasoned, well-seasoned, badly-seasoned, 

 and so forth. The use of numerical standards surprised them, 

 and their introduction astonished them still more when they 

 found that no information was available on these matters in 

 Australia. It was necessary to get the information by study of 

 the woods. J was able to direct an acute manufacturer as to 

 the methods of determining moisture in wood. He was able 

 then to make his own estimations and to proceed on a research, 

 with occasional guidance. Tn the end, he was unable to compre- 

 hend how coachmakers had ever done without such determina- 

 tions. A trap is wanted in Dubbo. If it is to remain a first- 

 class vehicle without rattling and without opening cracks and 

 joints, the wood employed must be dried so that it contains less 

 than such and such a, percentage of moisture. If the wood has 

 been dried below this figure, then it has undergone sufficient 

 contraction, and will not contract more in the dry climate of 

 Dubbo. If the trap is needed at Grafton, it will not be necessary 

 to obtain such dry wood, since the climate of Grafton is moist. 

 Again, the dryness of timber affects its breaking-strain. Further, 

 one timber will shrink as it dries in one relation to the grain more 

 than in another. Like an investigation in pure science, that 

 investigation on moisture in timber has no end. When the ex- 

 amination of one problem is ending, another question arises for 

 answer. 



Sufficient has been said to make you aware of the multiplicity 

 of the opportunities for the study of applied science. If the 

 scientist embarks on the new path of study, it will be well for 

 him to take a companion. Much can be said in favour of the 

 association of a practical man well versed in his business with 

 the scientist. It seems to me thai the scientist can be of greatest 

 use when he suggests the principles on which something is carried 

 out, and when he applies the controls to ascertain that the 

 desired results are being obtained. It only happens occasionally 

 that the scientist can suggest the best method of working. Let 



