148 REVIEWS OF BOOKS. [Dec. 



deutally made of the services of Dr. Cleghorn (formerly Conservator 

 of Forests in Madras), who was instrumental in originating a 

 regulated forest administration in India. Dr. Cleghorn was suc- 

 cessful in counteracting and restraining fire-cultivation in JVIysore, 

 there called Jcumri. Dr. Brandis speaks of the delight he experi- 

 enced on finding flourishing close timber coverts or groves of about 

 twenty years of age, at his visit of inspection in 1868, on the 

 deserted kumri lire clearings of Mysore. The article in question, as 

 might be inferred from the author's superior and quite exceptional 

 information on all subjects connected witli Indian Forestry, is 

 exceedingly instructive. 



In the previous number of the same Journal (for October) are to 

 be found two short extracts from technical periodical publications, 

 which are liere reproduced in English. 



THE E.MPLOY-AIENT OF BEECH TIMBER FOK E.ULWAY SLEEPERS. 



This was the subject of a lecture delivered by Eailway-Inspector 

 Glaus at a meeting in Berlin of the Society of Eaihvay Engineering. 

 According to experiments up to the present time, ordinary nnim- 

 pregnated beecli sleepers have been found to have too little durability. 

 They last on an average only 2;y to 3 years, wliile ordinary oak 

 sleepers last on an average 1 4 to 16 years, and connnon pine (Scotch 

 pine) sleepers last nnimpregnated 7 to 8 years. Of impregnated 

 sleepers those treated with creosote have given specially good results. 

 The duration of creosoted sleepers on the Cologne and Mindeu 

 Eailway is reckoned at nearly 18 years. Less favourable results 

 have been obtained with sleepers impregnated with a combination 

 of lime and barium. In France, beech sleepers are used on a large 

 scale, and of late tliey have been impregnated by a process called 

 " thermo-carbolization," discovered by John Blythe of Bordeaux. 

 The lecturer, however, considered this process insufficient. The 

 Iiuetger process usually employed in Germany he considered more 

 satisfactory. By it the sleepers are first artificially dried, and then 

 in a rarefied atmosphere under strong pressure are impregnated with 

 oil of tar containing creosote. Beech sleepers treated in this way 

 might compete with any other kind of timber, and they may be 

 empliatically recommended although the cost is a little higher than 

 for pine sleepers {Zcltschrift fucr Baulcimdc, 1883, p. 430). 



A NEW PROCESS FOR PRESERVING TIMBER. 



A new process has been invented in France. Tlie timber is 

 tlioroughly impregnated with a simple solution of soap mixed with 

 an acid — preferably phenic acid. This causes in a few days the 



