Pirpiuvn 'Timbers. 27 



of the specimen is placed. I is the ghiss front. The whole of 

 the chamber is covered with half-inch felt. The boileT is heated 

 by gas. and the steam in the chamber can be raised to boiling 

 point. By attaching a metal coil to the steam inlet and con- 

 denser, the apparatus ca,n be converted into a drying chamber. 



The specimens were twenty-two inches long, three-quarters of 

 an inch wide, and three-eighths of an inch deep. A band of 

 spring brass was attached to a brass jockey clip, through 

 which a hole was drilled, so that a brass pin could be inserted 

 in order to carry a casting of lead weighing 10 lbs., to which 

 a horizontal pointer was attached. The specimen was placed 

 under the band, and the whole inserted in the chamber pre- 

 paratory to steam being turned on. The end opposite to the 

 weight was placed under a piece of angle-iron which is riveted 

 to the end of the steaming chamber. Nine inches from the 

 angle-iron a galvanised iron pipe, two and three^eighths of an 

 inch in diameter, was placed. The specimen rested on the pipe, 

 and the weight was allowed to act during the whole of the 

 steaming process. All the specimens were subjected to the same 

 weight under similar conditions. Each variety of timber was 

 so arranged that two were tested with the annual rings parallel 

 to the direction of bending, two at right angles and two with 

 the rings diagonal. All were placed in the chamber at the tem- 

 perature of the surrounding atmosphere, which averaged 

 73 deg. F. The chamber was then closed and steam admitted, 

 and through the plate glass front of the chamber 'the relative 

 bending of the specimens could be noted from time to time. 



Under these conditions, Ulaho is undoubtedly the best bend- 

 ing timber, as the whole six bent over the pipe without the 

 least sign of stress on either the compression or tension sides. 



KuJcoilo came next, with three out of the six bending. 



No. 1, being cross-grained, showed a split on the tension side 

 in the direction of the uneven grain. Rings diagonal. 



No. 2 was very much stressed and broke with slight pressure. 

 Rings parallel. 



No. 3 bent, with slight flaking on tension side. Rings vertical. 



No. 4 good bend, but slight twist (twisted grain) ; no frac- 

 ture. Rings diagonal. 



No. 5 good bend, straight grain. Rings parallel. 



