452 Inquiries relative to the Structure of Wood. 



omy, as well as to those who love that noble science, and 

 feel a gratification in being able to remove the veil under 

 which the mysterious operations of nature are concealed. 

 The particular object which I had in view in explor- 

 ing the structure of wood has led me by a way by no 

 means likely to be fertile in interesting discoveries ; but 

 I have begun the work, and feel myself bound to com- 

 plete it, in preference to every other consideration. 

 These fascinating researches, I am aware, have already 

 carried me too far, and I must now resign them into 

 the hands of others, in order to fulfil my engagements. 

 This I do most cheerfully, and it will give me the great- 

 est pleasure to behold a field, too long neglected, once 

 more broken up. 



SECTION IV. Of the Quantities of Water contained in 

 Woods considered as dry, or Seerwoods. 



Wood is a hygrometric substance, and, when exposed 

 to the atmospheric air, always imbibes a visible quantity 

 of water, varying, however, with the temperature and 

 humidity of the air. 



If the moisture in the wood were confined in vessels 

 so constructed as to be totally impervious to water, 

 the fabric of the wood would be uniformly the same, 

 with the exception only of the variations caused in its 

 dimensions by change of temperature, in which case it 

 would be very easy to determine the quantity of water 

 contained in the wood, when the specific gravity of its 

 solid parts was known. But, as the bulk of all woods 

 is considerably diminished in drying, the experiment is 

 rendered rather prolix, though by no means difficult, 

 and its results are clear and satisfactory. 



