320 Results of Experiments in Kyanising 



torily proves, in the preface to his Commentaries ; an author 

 who was contemporary with the foundation of both gardens, and 

 worthy of belief. 



Monza, near Milan, February 21. 1839. 



Art. V. Results of certain Experiments in Kyanising different Species 

 of Wood for being used as Garden Tallies; tvith Remarks on the 

 Effect of Kyanising Hop-Poles. By W. Masters, F.H.S., &c. 



At our last interview we had some conversation on the effi- 

 cacy of Ky an's patent for the preservation of wood. On that 

 occasion I promised a more detailed account of my experiments, 

 which I now proceed to give. 



About four years ago, I had portions of oak timber sent me, 

 that had been placed in what is called the Fungus Pit, at 

 Sheerness. They were represented as portions of the selfsame 

 tree, that, at the same time, had been placed in the pit, which 

 was air-tight, and in which was other timber in a decaying state 

 from the effect of what is commonly called dry rot. The 

 difference between the two pieces sent was remarkable ; the one 

 literally dropping to pieces, and showing the concentric plates 

 almost without the longitudinal fibre, and the other firm, 

 compact, and preserving its sharp edges, as though it were 

 but recently cut from the tree. It is needless to say the one 

 piece had been subjected to the patent process, and the other 

 had not. 



Upon the fact becoming generally known, the most extrava- 

 gant results were anticipated ; our large landed proprietors began 

 to fear that, so soon as timber generally was subjected to the 

 Kyanising principle, as there would be no more decay, the 

 greater part of the wood grown would become of no other value 

 than for fuel ; whilst the carpenter plainly saw the end of his 

 industrious earning, if, when a fenced gate or a house were once 

 formed no after repair would be necessary. Nor was this all ; 

 it soon became confidently asserted that the least valuable of 

 wood, such as that produced from poplar, willow, sycamore, 

 elms, and other quick-growing trees, after being saturated with 

 the chemical liquid, would become in all respects equal to heart 

 oak. 



In our district the hop-growers seized the idea, and fondly 

 imagined that they had found what had years ago been promised 

 by Cobbett, " everlasting hop-poles. Under this impression, 

 thousands of poles of beech, birch, and other soft woods were 

 placed in Kyan's tanks in Canterbury, mingled indiscriminately 

 with those of ash and chestnut. In order the more perfectly to 



