XC THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



systematic work on pulpwood some analyses have been made of decayed 

 poplar ("punky poplar"). Although this latter work opens up some 

 possibilities of utilization of the waste poplar of the west, further 

 work must be abandoned for the present on account of lack of staff. 



Oils for ore Flotation. 



While no further work has been done at the laboratories on the 

 investigation of Canadian wood oils as regards their possibilities in 

 connection with ore flotation, it is worth noting here that since the 

 last annual report, the hardwood distillation oils recommended as a 

 result of work of these laboratories in co-operation with the Mines 

 Branch have been tried out commercially and found satisfactory. 

 This result is very gratifying since not only are the mines rendered 

 independent of imported pine^ oil, but a use has been found for a 

 Canadian product which was previously wasted. 



Durability of Wood 



Work was continued on the study of decay of wood but no con- 

 clusions of value can be drawn as yet. A set of 335 pieces of 12 

 different species of wood were placed in a specially prepared fungus bed, 

 and will be examined at appropriate intervals to note the comparative 

 rates of deterioration. A specially constructed box was designed and 

 built at the laboratories for the study of the effect of humidity on 

 fungus growth. This is arranged with chambers,' each of which can 

 be maintained indefinitely at constant and controllable temperature 

 and humidity. With the aid of this apparatus it is hoped that definite 

 information can be'obtained as to the limits of humidity at which the 

 wood-destroying fungi cease to develop. 



Fibre Measurements 



Work on the measurement of the fibre dimensions of Canadian 

 woods has been continued and studies of the fibre of red pine, white 

 pine, jack pine, white spruce, black spruce, balsam fir, and hemlock 

 have been completed. Approximately 11,000 measurements have 

 been made during the year on these woods and the data obtained cover 

 the variation in length of fibre both at different ages of the tree and at 

 different heights from the ground. Mr. H. N. Lee, who had charge of 

 this work, resigned to take up work on airplane woods for the United 

 States Government before completing the preparation of a paper 

 embodying the results. They will, however, be put into shape and 

 published as soon as possible. 



