TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 115 
3. The native strength of the fibre secured dy the immediate evaporation of all 
vegetable juices likely to ferment and carry on decomposition. 
4. The gums, instead of being removed, are coagulated and hardened, and the 
texture of the wood generally having been brought into its most complete state of 
aggregation and density, is much less liable to imbibe atmospheric moisture, and 
altogether less prone to decay. 
5. The colour of mahogany and other fancy woods is not only preserved but 
improved. 
; 6. Shrinkage is entirely obviated. 
7. Cost of desiccating less than the interest of money on the value of wood, laying 
up to season in the ordinary way. 
8. Inferior woods made useful and equally durable as the more expensive, all the 
chief elements of decay and mischief being expelled. 
In general, there is the absolute certainty to the consumer that wood so treated 
is thoroughly dry, a matter which, according to the old system, is one of great doubt. 
_ The author adduces proof from experiments, and exhibits specimens of the suc- 
__ cess of the process in the above particulars. 
__. Two tables are appended, one showing the average per-centage of moisture re- 
moved from 100 different specimens of wood, which was 21} per cent., the average 
_ time occupied in desiccating the same being thirty-six days, together with the ratio 
of time in which equal degrees of desiccation were effected by the natural and arti- 
_ ficial processes, which were as 40 to |, the thickness being 1 to 12 inches. 
_ A table giving the result of a few of the above specimens with their duplicates, 
_ which were afterwards submitted to a strain until they broke, the weight, deflection 
_ and average increase of strength by desiccating being noted, the additional strength 




























being— On yellow pine............ 17°G per cent. 
On Riga pine .....2....4. 20°4 
On mahogany ............ 12°4 
On English oak ......... 14°0 
. Reference is made to the system of impregnating wood with preservative mix- 
tures, and the author explains that where such is deemed desirable, that the most 
effectual mode of accomplishing the object is first to desiccate the timber, and im- 
mediately on its removal from the heated chamber to plunge it into any of the mix- 
tures referred to in a cold state. But the author is of opinion, that by removing all 
_ the vegetable juices or elements of decay, there is little occasion for impregnating the 
wood with any foreign matter. 
The author appends notices of the mode of conveying the currents of heated air 
into drying chambers generally ; the application of the process to purposes where a 
high degree of heat is necessary ; and to the roasting of coffee. 
The paper proceeds at some length to describe the imperfections which exist in 
the ordinary modes of roasting, and states that in the desiccating method, intended 
to remedy these defects, the coffee is put into cylinders perforated throughout, or 
into cylinders made of gauze wire; currents of hot air are impelled into the midst 
of the berries, thereby driving off through an aperture in the cover of the apparatus 
“all the first water,”’ to use a phrase, as in boiling potatoes. 
The pernicious watery vapour being fairly expelled, the operator proceeds to ad- 
just both the admission- and escape-valves, by which means the roasting is perfected 
in (to all intents and purposes) a close vessel, thereby retaining all the really essen- 
jal flavouring properties of the coffee. 
_ Asa proof of the charring and deteriorating effect of coffee roasted solely by a 
highly heated metallic surface, 112 lbs. of raw coffee seldom produces more than 
Ql lbs., or at most 92 lbs. of roasted coffee, whereas the new mode has been found 
‘to produce, on an average of six months’ working, 93 lbs. 6 oz. 
"On the Manufacture of the Finer Irons and Steels, as applied to Gun-Bar- 
___réls, Swords, and Railway Axles, By W. Greener, Birmingham. 
The first innovation on the old principle of manufacturing gun-barrels entirely 
from old horse-nail stubs was due to the late Mr. Adams of wee who 
