74 ' forestry Quarterly. 



equipped institution of the kind in the world. The lines of work 

 •conducted in the laboratory are indicated by the names of the 

 sections into which the organization is divided, as follows : 

 Timber Tests, Pulp and Paper, Chemistry, Timber Physics, 

 Wood Preservation, Wood Distillation, and Pathology. The 

 Office of Wood Utilization at Chicago carries on such investi- 

 gations not of a scientific or experimental character as may be 

 advisable to promote the greatest economy in the utilization of 

 forest products. One of the important projects which is being 

 worked out in California is with regard to eucalyptus and involves 

 the study of the effect of season of cutting, season and method of 

 girdling, soaking in fresh and salt water, and method of piling 

 and climatic conditions upon subsequent seasoning. The effects 

 of bark peeling, and "S" irons are also being investigated as 

 affecting loss of moisture, checking, and shrinking. In connec- 

 tion with this project, and to further amplify it, arrangements 

 have been made with the state for the erection of an experimental 

 dry kiln near Los Angeles. This will be constructed within a 

 year, and will be of such design that the factors affecting season- 

 ing, such as humidity, temperature, flow of air, etc., can be 

 accurately controlled. Studies are also being made with regard 

 to the manufacture of paper from woods found in California. 

 Very little has yet been done along this line, but the opportunities 

 are very great. Redwood pulp can undoubtedly be advan- 

 tageously utilized for the manufacture of wrapping paper and 

 paper to pack fruit and lime boxes, since for these purposes the 

 dark color of the paper will be no disadvantage. The possibility 

 of this utilization will undoubtedly have a strong tendency favor- 

 able to the conservative handling of redwood tracts, since waste 

 can be utilized at a profit instead of remaining on the ground to 

 form a fire menace. Experiments are also in progress to deter- 

 mine the practicability of wood distillation for the production of 

 gas for generating power, light, and heat, as well as to determine 

 the commercial possibilities with regard to turpentining opera- 

 tions in western species, particularly white pine, lodgepole pine, 

 sugar and digger pines. 



