A DlX'KXXlAI, Kl'.COHl) .31 



taken and c-ci'tain j)riiicipk's (Ictennined. the adoption of wliieli cut 

 down the losses very materially. It was evident, however, that I'nrtlier 

 investigation would serve to improve the art still more, and ])lans were 

 made for an extensive projeet. A steam-bending maehine and steam- 

 ing retort were installed and preliminary tests had been made when 

 the armistice was signed. Further work has been tem])()i-ai-ily aban- 

 doned because of the lack of funds. 



xVn interesting phase of the drying situation was that connected 

 with the conditioning of walnut gunstock blanks. The (piantity of 

 blanks needed was beyond belief, and naturally, long ])efore the entry 

 of the Ignited States into the war, air-dry supplies of Avalnut had been 

 absorbed by rifle manufacturers filling contracts for the allies. The 

 first attempts to kiln dry green walnut when the available air-dry 

 material disa])peared, resulted disastrously — one instance being re- 

 corded when the opening of the kilns at one plant at the end of a run 

 disclosed (iO.OOO totally ruined blanks with a loss of $72,000 in mate- 

 rial costs. One firm with an order for two million rifles for Russian 

 use called on the laboratory in this crisis and the ap))lication of the 

 drying princi])les already perfected, supplemented with needed varia- 

 tions indicated after a study of the problems of this specific material, 

 reduced losses to less than two j^er cent. AVhen the United States 

 itself entered the market for greater (|uantities of rifle blanks than 

 ever, facilities existed for fllling orders without loss and with but little 

 delay. 



Additional assistance was rendered in ^'arious ways, especially in 

 the pre])aration of specifications and in the selection of substitute 

 species for those difficult to secure in sufficient quantity. The fund 

 of data on the properties of wood accumidated since the laboratory's 

 inception, coupled w^ith the experience of the staff, proved of \'ery 

 great value in this work. 



War Time Bo.rWorh 



The first intimation that there was going to be trouble in connec- 

 tion with the boxing and crating of goods for overseas came when the 

 Ordnance Department sent out recpiests for bids on boxes, using its 

 standard specifications which called for high grade white pine. Xo 

 bids came ])ack. The help of the laboratory was sought, and. on the 



