340 AUSTRALIAN NATIVE PLANTS. 
The experiments were conducted as follows:—“ The distance 
between the supports was four feet; the beam rested on iron 
trestle-heads, firmly fixed and prevented from collapsing by 
stays, the ends left free, the weights were applied in the 
centre, and increased by half-hundred weights at a time, at 
the intervals of half-an-hour, till the elasticity was evidently 
destroyed, when the interval between each addition was pro- 
longed to an hour. At the end of each interval the beam was 
relieved of its weight. This was effected by means of a screw- 
jack, which raised the scale on which the weights rested, thus 
the beam was always relieved from pressure, and subjected to it, 
without jerks.” 
1860. ‘Report of further experiments conducted at the 
Sydney Branch of the Royal Mint, to determine the strength and 
elasticity of colonial timber, by E. W. Ward, Esq., Deputy-Master, 
presented to Parliament 6th February, 1861.” Mew South 
Wales Votes and Proceedings for 1861, vol. ii. (In the following 
pages this report is referred to when the words “Sydney Mint” 
are used.) 
The experiments were conducted as follows :—*‘ The timber, 
which usually consisted of a beam 2” x 2” in scantling, and five 
feet in length, was placed horizontally on supports four feet apart, 
and consisting of iron trestle-heads firmly fixed, and secured from 
collapsing by stays. The ends of the beam were left free. The 
weights were applied to the centre by means of a scale suspended 
from an iron staple adjusted half way between the supports. 
Commencing with a weight of six cwt., an addition of half a cwt. 
was made at the end of every half-hour until nine cwt. had been 
applied, when the interval between each successive application was 
extended to one hour. At the end of each interval the beam was 
relieved of its weight by means of a screw-jack, which raised the 
scale in which the weights rested, and after the addition of half 2 
cwt. the weight was brought to bear by gently lowering the scale, 
by the means which it had been raised. As soon as it was 
noticed that the beam on being relieved did not return to its 
horizontal position, the weight in the scale, and the deflection of 
the beam at that weight (the deflection at any particular weight 
