SCOPE AND HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OP THE SCIENCE OF "TIMBER PHYSICS.' 



Whenever Imiiiaii knowledge in :uiy i);ii-ticulai- direction has j^rown to such an exteril and 

 complexity as to make it desirable for greatei- eonvenieiu'i^ and better comprehension to group it, 

 correlate its parts, and organize tlieni into a, systematic whole, we may dignily sucii knowledge by 

 a eollective name as a new seienee or branch of science. The need of such organization is espe- 

 cially felt when a more systematic progress in accumulating lu'w know ledge is contemplated. In 

 devising, therefore, the plans for a systematic and compiehensi\(^ examination of our woods it has 

 appeared desirable to establish a system nnder which is to be organized all the knowh'dge we have 

 or may acquire of the nature and behavior of wood. 



To this new branch of natural science T i)ropose to give the name of " timber physics," a term 

 which I have used tirst in my Iteport for 1.S87, when, in devising a systematic i)hui of forestry science, 

 the absence of a collective name for this class of knowledge became apparent. 



"^Tiile forest bioh)gy contemplates tlie forest and its components in their liviii;/ condition, we 

 comprise in timber physics all phenomena exhibited in the iJead material of forest production. 



The practical applic'ation of timber or wood for human use, its technology, is based upon the 

 knowledge of timber physics, and under this term we comprise not only the anatomy, the chemical 

 composition, the physical and mechanical properties of wood, but also its diseases and defects, 

 and a knowledge of the influences and conditions which deteriTiine structure, physical, chemical, 

 mechanical, or technical ])roperties and defects. This comprehensive science, conceived under the 

 name here chosen, although developed more or less in some of its parts, has never yet been digni- 

 fied by a special name, nor has a systematic arrangement of its parts been attempted before. It 

 comprises various groups of knowledge derived from other sections of science, which are neither 

 in themselves nor in their relations to each other fully developed. 



While i)lant physiology, biology, chemistry, aiuitomy, and especially xylotomy, or riie science 

 of wood structure, are more or less developed and contribute toward Imilding uj) this new branch 

 of science, but little knowledge exists in regard to the interrelation between the i)roperties of 

 wood on one side and the moditications in its comjiosition and structure on the oth(!r. Even the 

 relation of the proi)erties of various woods, as couii)ared with eacli other, ami their distinct specitic 

 peculiarities is but little explored and established. Less knowledge still exists as to the relation 

 of the conditions which surround the living tree to the properties which are exhibited in its wood 

 as a result of its life functions. 8upiiositions and conjectures more or less plausible i)reponder- 

 ate over positive knowledge derived from exact observation and from the results of ex))eriments. 

 Still less complete is our knowledge in regard to the relation of properties and the methods and 

 means used for shai)ing or working the wood. 



The close interrelation of all branches of natural siaenee is now so well recognized that 1 need 

 not remind my readers that hard and fast lines can not be diawn. whereby each Held of incpiiry is 

 confined and limited; tlnnc must necessarily b(^ an oveilapping from one to the other. Any system, 

 therefoie, of dividing a larger ficdd of ini|niry into i)arts is only a matter of convenience; its 

 divisions and correlations must be to some extent arbitrary ami varied, according to the point of 

 view ti'om which we jiroceed to divide and correlate 



There are two delinite and separate directions in which this branch of natural science neeils 

 to be devehiped, and the knowledge comprised in it jnay be divideil accordingly. On one. side it 



17244— Xo. i; — .•; '' 



