54 TIMBER AND TIMBER TREES. [CHAP. 



In the specimens marked I to 6, the greatest strength 

 was possessed by the piece taken from close to the 

 centre of the log, which comprised the oldest and densest 

 annual layers, while No. 6, which was farthest removed 

 from it, and contained the most recently perfected dura- 

 men, proved to be the weakest, the respective breaking 

 weights showing a difference of nearly 42 per cent. 



Turning to the specimens marked i' to 6', taken from 

 the other side of the tree, we find a similar result as 

 regards the inner and the outer layers, the greatest 

 strength being again near to the centre of the tree ; 

 No. 5', however, bearing the next greatest strain. The 

 pieces Nos. 2', 3', 4', and 6', each broke as the weight 

 of the scale was applied, and are therefore of little 

 value. 



We may gather, however, from the trial, that from 

 the centre to the circumference of this tree there was 

 clearly a diminution of strength, which, although not 

 quite proportionate to the decrease observed in the 

 specific gravity of the several pieces, is yet in some 

 degree approximate to it. 



I infer from this that the tree had not reached 

 maturity when it was cut down, and that it was still 

 in the prime of life. Had it been otherwise, we should 

 have expected, when viewed by the light of other 

 experiments, to find that the point of density and 

 greatest strength would lie in the piece marked 4, or 

 even farther removed from the centre. 



There can be very little doubt that the wood of 

 this tree, if used in its greatest bulk, or in any large 

 scantlings, would have been found to possess fully the 

 average strength of Oak timber, and that it was only 

 weak in certain parts, as discovered on trial when cut 

 into strips of 2 inches square. There still remains, 



