MANIPULATION OF TIMBER. 373 



machine steams the timber, dissolves the sap, and 

 sucks it from the centre. The blocks exhibited were 

 exposed to a pressure of 15 tons to the square inch. 

 The weight was increased so much in proportion to 

 the size that compressed beech exceeds box-wood in 

 specific gravity. The wood that has been submitted 

 to this process resists all attempts to split it in two. 



Mr. Bennett, a timber-merchant of Canada, who 

 was present at this meeting, said that " Bass-wood 

 would be suitable in cases where mahogany was used 

 at the present time in coach-building, x^merican rock- 

 elm," he said, "was superior to English elm, on 

 account of its being free from knots and blemishes of 

 any kind." He went on to say that " Canadian timber 

 could be seasoned ninety days after being cut, owing 

 to the dryness of the air in Canada." 



There being so much to be said in favour of 

 Canadian timber, it naturally follows that our English 

 coach-builders employ it largely in the construction 

 of carriages. Hickory has been largely employed for 

 wheels, and, owing to its elasticity and strength, 

 has made a very favourable impression upon the 

 coach-builders of this country when used for light 

 wheels. As has been explained, for bodies and under- 

 carriages, and especially for poles, no wood seems to 

 equal the English hedge-row ash for toughness and 

 durability ; full-grown wood is best suited for this 

 purpose. The lower part of the body of a coach is 

 panelled up with the softest bay mahogany ; ash is 

 used for the felloes of wheels, but beech felloes are 

 often used, and it has been found by experience, that 

 beech, when cut into felloes from the log shortly after 

 it is felled, and kept until they become dry before 

 being framed into wheels, answers admirably for this 



