326 



to 50 per cent, on arrival, but by February this had de 

 creased in the smaller specimens to 10 or 12 per cent. The 

 moisture in the smallest pieces has not gone below 9 per cent. 

 During the process of drying the timber contracted very 

 considerably across the grain. The amount of this contrac- 

 tion was measured on a number of pieces 

 that had been turned to a cylindrical form 

 in the lathe in July, 1907. By February, 

 1908, instead of being round, the section 

 of every one was an oval, as shown rather 

 exaggerated in the figure. Contraction 

 had taken place in both directions, but 

 much more in the direction parallel to the 

 rings than in the direction at right angles 

 to them. The average results of a number of such measure- 

 ment were as follow: 



The contraction was of a very different character in dif- 

 ferent woods. With Pink Gum and Blue Gum, for example, 

 it was very uniform, and the wood remained smooth and even. 

 But with Red Gum the different rings of growth appear to 

 contract very unevenly, with the result that the specimens 

 became marked with longitudinal ridges. This wood warps 

 badly, as do also Manna and White Gum. 



