296 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH AKBORICULTURAL SOCIETV. 



fore rendered more difficult. Then the original albumenoid sub- 

 stances no longer existing, the wood will not be aifected by 

 the hydrometric condition of the air, and may be preserved 

 without change, escaping putrefaction and attack by insects. 

 These properties have been proved by tests which show an increase 

 in the tenacity of the fibrous matter. Exjieriments made by the 

 superintendents of wood paving in the city of Paris have attested 

 conchisively the efficacy of this process. Pavements of senilised 

 beech and pavements of beech simply creosoted have been laid in 

 several quarters, particularly at the Porte Saint Martin. When 

 taken up some time afterwards, the treated beech showed no sign 

 of the usual decay, and exhibited more resistance to wear than the 

 beech not treated. 



By ageing, the colour of the wood is not modified, and its 

 sonorousness is increased to such an extent that it is now sought 

 for by the makers of instruments of music. 



This process not only imparts to the wood the qualities that 

 have been enumerated, but it causes an important saving over the 

 methods hitherto employed, especially over that of drying in the 

 open air, by diminution of the capital represented in the value of 

 the wood and in the ground occupied, and by the prevention of 

 waste. It is applicable not only to the rapid drying of wood, but 

 by modifying the conditions of treatment, of increasing any one 

 of the qualities previously cited, according to the kind of wood 

 and the use to which it is to be applied. 



Finally, by the electric treatment the uninfiammability of wood 

 may be increased by employing, for example, ammoniacal salts in 

 the vats. 



FiREPROOFING OF WoOD. 



It is impossible to render wood completely incombustible, but 

 an almost absolute immunity against the attacks of fire can be 

 imparted. 



Gay-l^ussac was one of the first to lay down the principal 

 conditions indispensable for rendering organic substances in 

 general, and wood in particular, uninflammable. 



1. Throughout the whole duration of the action of the heat, the 

 fibres must be kept from contact with the air, which would cause 

 combustion. The pi-esence of borates, silicates, etc., imparts this 

 property to organic bodies. 



2. Combustible gases, disengaged by the action of heat, must 



