342 AUSTRALIAN NATIVE PLANTS. 
the proper scale, by a simple self-registering arrangement. After 
a certain number of specimens of the wood being examined had 
been treated in this way, the remainder, if any, were broken more 
rapidly by a gradually increasing steady pressure which was never 
relaxed. ‘ihese experiments were specially noted in a ‘remarks’ 
column. This system was used throughout, except that, when the 
first experiment showed that the wood was very weak, the first 
weight applied was z2olbs. only, and the regular increment 
varied from iolbs. to 2olbs., according to the circumstances of 
the case. 
“The period during which each pressure was applied was 
certainly rather short to allow the weight to have its full effect, 
but it was adopted as a necessary compromise between the work to 
be overtaken and the time in which it required to be done. The 
rapidity with which the experiments were carried on may have had 
the effect of making the results somewhat high, but as the values 
of E should be equally influenced with those of S, and as the 
values of E. are not inconsistent with those ascertained at Sydney, 
(Further Experiments, &c., by Capt. Ward, R.E.), there is no 
evidence to show that such has been the case. 
“In Barlow’s work E is calculated for a unit of 
one inch long and one inch square. In calculating these results 
the unit has been assumed as one foot long, so that Barlow’s E has 
to be divided by 12° or 1,728, and vice versa, to get the corres- 
ponding quantities. . . . Column S is the most important 
of all, as giving the ultimate strength of the timber. The values 
_extracted from Barlow’s work and elsewhere have been divided 
by twelve, to reduce the results to a uniform standard of one foot 
long, which is considered more convenient than the old unit of 
one inch.” 
1875.  Zimber and Timber Trees, Native and Foreign, by 
Thomas j,Laslett, Timber Inspector to the Admiralty, London, 
Macmillan & Co. 
“The tests for the transverse strengths in my experiments 
were conducted, in every case, with pieces 2” x 2" x 84” = 336 
cubic inches. Each piece was placed upon supports exactly 
six feet apart, and then water was placed gently and gradually into 
