On the transverse Strength of Timler. 



215 



and it is not inferior to any of the common kinds of timber (na- 

 tive or foreign) either in strength, toughness, or elasticity. 



Results of Experiments, on the transverse Strength ofTimher, 

 made at Mr. Atkinson's, Grove End, St. John's Wood, on 

 Thursday, March \2th, 1818. 



The pieces were each an inch square, except No. 3, which was 

 only 8-1 Oths of an inch in breadth. Tiie numbers in the table 

 show the weights it would have borne if it had been an inch 

 square; the pieces were supported at each end, and were loaded 

 by putting olbs. at a time into a scale suspended from the middle; 

 — the distance between the supports 30 inches. 



As the strength of small pieces depends much on the position 

 of the annual rings, the pieces were placed as nearly alike in this 

 respect as possible. When the pieces were in the position in 

 which they were broke, the dark lines or portions of the animal 

 rings that appear in the section of a piece were vertical. — From 

 the results exhibited in the preceding table, it appears very clear- 

 ly, that larch is best adapted to resist the force of a bodv in mo- 

 tion; — but to leave no doubts in this respect the following experi- 

 jnents were made. 



O 4 Experiments 



