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FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION. 



May,. 



the influence of the method of tanning 

 on the character and wearing quahties 

 of the leathers. 



In connection with the methods of 

 kiln-drying lumber which are now ex- 

 tensively practiced, the laboratory' has 

 been requested to make a study of the 

 effect of dr}' and moist heat on the phys- 

 ical properties of various woods. The 

 value of these data will be in their prac- 

 tical application in connection with the 

 use of such kmiber in buildings. This 

 work has been held in abeyance until 

 appropriate testing machines can be ob- 

 tained, and we then propose to coop- 

 erate with the Road Material Labora- 

 tory of the Bureau of Chemistry, not 

 only in this work, but also in the test- 

 ing of wood paving blocks and the ap- 

 plication and effect of wood preserva- 

 tives. A large variety of the latter are 

 to-day offered, and a comparative study 

 of their effectiveness should prove of 

 considerable value. 



Another line of work, which wall 

 hardly be received with much pleasure 

 by certain interests, wherein it resem- 

 bles the work on food adulteration so 

 long carried on by the Bureau of Chem- 

 istry, but which will be beneficial in 

 other directions, is an examination of 

 American turpentine as found in the 

 market. It is claimed that adultera- 

 tion, especially with benzine and rosin 

 oil, is most extensively practiced, the 

 result being a pecuniary fraud by which 

 both the buyer and ultimate user suffer, 

 as paints prepared with such turpentine 

 have less covering power and perma- 

 nency. In a bulletin on oil of turpen- 

 tine, recently published by the Inland 

 Revenue Department, Ottawa, Canada, 

 it was shown that i6 per cent of the 

 turpentine sold in the province was 

 adulterated in the manner just men- 

 tioned. 



In connection with the turpentine in- 

 dustr}^, we are now engaged in a study 

 of a series of products obtained by a 

 new method of distilling waste pine. I 

 will not enter into the details of the 

 process, as they will shortly appear in a 

 report which we are now preparing for 

 publication in Forestry and Irriga- 

 tion. I may say, however, that this 

 process appears to be the first which 



successfully and profitably utilizes the- 

 larger quantities of dead pine found in 

 the southern turpentine belt. 



Probably the most interesting work 

 conducted by this laboratory is a study 

 of the chemical composition, constitu- 

 ents, and possible uses of a series of 

 tree secretions which have been sub- 

 mitted by the Philippine Bureau of For- 

 estry. With the exception of a few of 

 the materials, we have so far not been 

 able to find a reference in the literature, 

 and in some cases the work has proved, 

 doubly interesting, as we found investi- 

 gations recorded which have been made- 

 with material of doubtful origin. This 

 naturally introduces an element of un- 

 certainty with reference to the applica- 

 bility of the final results, and it is for- 

 tunate that the materials sent us for 

 examination have in general been care- 

 fully identified. Arrangements have 

 also been made whereby the laboratory 

 will be supplied with samples of the- 

 various parts, such as the bark, wood,, 

 leaves, and secretions, if found, of all 

 new trees reported by the exploring 

 parties sent out by the Bureau of For- 

 estrjMn Manila, and these materials will, 

 form the basis for a series of investiga- 

 tions having both a purely scientific and. 

 a commercial value. 



In connection with these various prob- 

 lems we have also planned a series of 

 microscopical studies of woods and 

 barks, and work of this kind is now 

 progressing with reference to the oaks 

 previously mentioned. The object of 

 these investigations is not merely his- 

 tological, as we are aware that consider- 

 able work of this kind has been done. 

 Our chief aim is to study the histo- 

 chemistrj' of the cellular structure, and 

 a number of interesting observations 

 have already been recorded. A large 

 amount of microscopical work will also 

 be required in connection with the in- 

 vestigations on wood pulp and papers. 



During the coming spring the labo- 

 ratory will also conduct an investigation 

 on chemical methods of killing useless- 

 timber. 



Finall}^ I may mention the study of 

 analj'tical methods, especially with ref- 

 erence to tanning materials, which is- 

 conducted each year in connection with 



