FORESTKV. 783 



Woods of the Philippines, I'.. ( '. Smith I Forestry and Trrig., 10 I 1904), No. JO. 

 pp. f79, 480). —Notes are given descriptive of the character and value of a number of 

 the more valuable species of woods exhibited in the Philippine forestry exhibit at 



the Louisiana Purchase Exposition at St. Louis. A ng those described arc nana. 



calantas, and molave. All of these belong to the firsl class of timber and are among 

 the more valuable a.s well as higher j>rieed timbers furnished by the islands. 



Report on the condition of treated timbers laid in Texas, February, 1902, 

 11. von Schkenk I U. S. 1>>/>I. .I'//'., Bureau of Forestry Bui. •">/. /</<. /'.■;, />!■■<. 3). — In a 

 previous publication i E. S. R., 14. ]>. L54) an account was given of projected experi- 

 ments on the preservation of railroad ties by treating them with different materials. 

 In the present bulletin the results of an examination of theses treated ties after hav- 

 ing been used for nearly two years are given. 



The timbers used in the experiments consisted of various varieties of oak, beech, 

 tamarack, hemlock, and pine. The treated and untreated specimens were laid, all 

 ties of the same timber being together. In this way approximately the same condi- 

 tions were obtained for the same timbers. A general inspection of the condition of 

 the ties was made in November, 1903, followed by a second inspection in June, 1904. 



At this time practically all of the untreated timbers showed more or less decay. 

 Hemlock, tamarack, loblolly pine, and beech showed the least resistance, followed 

 closely by the longleaf pine, while the oaks all showed the greatest resistance. Ties 

 which received zinc chlorid and Wellhouse treatments showed no signs of decay, 

 which was also true of those treated with the Allardyce process, when applied in a 

 proper manner. An examination of some of the oak ties showed that they had 

 become excessively brittle on account of being too highly heated during the treat- 

 ment. 



Timbers which had received the spirittine treatment were generally found in good 

 condition. Timbers treated with the Barschall or llasselmann process were less 

 satisfactory, but it is claimed by representatives of the Barschall Company that the 

 treatment was not properly applied. The results of all the tests indicate that where 

 timbers are to be compared they should lie treated in large quantities and as nearly 

 as possible under the general conditions governing the treatment of timber for com- 

 mercial purposes. 



A detailed report is given of the condition of the different ties, and appendixes 

 show the nature of the treatment and method of application. 



Progress report on the strength of structural timber, W. K. Hatt (U. S. 

 Dept. J,'//'., Bureau of Forestry Circ. ■>.>, /,/,. 28). — A progress report is given, showing 

 the partial results of the timber tests now being carried on by the Bureau of Forestry 

 to determine the mechanical properties of the various commercial timbers of the 

 United States. The data presented contain results of cross-bending tests on about 

 250 large beams of structural timber. A more formal publication in the form of a 

 bulletin is promised, in which a detailed account of the methods and machines used 

 as well as the results of the individual tests will be given. 



In arranging these tests the Bureau of Forestry has for the present limited its test- 

 ing to those species that promise to he on the market for an indefinite period, to 

 those actually present in the market, and to such purely scientific work as forms the 

 hasis for correct methods of testing. The timber tests have been made in coopera- 

 tion with the laboratories of the University of California, Purdue University, the 

 Bureau of Chemistry of this Department, and the Yale Forest School. The species 

 under investigation at the present time are the Pacific Coast red fir, also known as 

 the Oregon pine or Douglas spruce, the western hemlock, red gum, longleaf pine, 

 and loblolly pine. Later it is expected to test the redwood and the western yellow- 

 pi ne. 



The general results of the tests of the different classes of timber are given, and 

 particular attention is paid the tests of red gum. These have been undertaken on 



