General Notices. 1 79 



irrefragable proofs of the great durability of the wood prepared by his plan. 

 Ordinary hoops were reduced to powder at the least effort, while his were 

 as solid as at the first. 



When the warping of timber (jeu des bois), preserving its elasticity, and 

 rendering it less combustible, are considered, the author finds a cheap pre- 

 ventive in the use of earthy chlorides (chlorures terreux). Impressed with 

 the idea that his plans are soon to come into universal operation, he has not 

 been satisfied with merely using chloride of calcium (chlorure de calcium) 

 which costs so little, but has tried the efficacious water of the salt marshes 

 which costs nothing, and found it to contain all the requisite qualities. Timber 

 prepared by these saline solutions preserves its flexibility after several years' 

 exposure to the air ; when cut into thin slices (feuilles), they may be twisted 

 spirally, and retwisted in a contrary direction, without cracking. When 

 exposed to the air, it never either warps or splits, however dry it maybe ; and 

 it does not burn, or at least with so much difficulty that it is incapable of 

 extending the ravages of a fire. 



To these great and useful properties, which will be appreciated and applied 

 in the navy and in civil and domestic buildings, the author has added other 

 applications, which, without having the same utility, hold out new materials 

 and means for the arts. He colours timber with shades so various and so 

 curiously marked, that the commonest woods may be used with much effect 

 for inlaying. The pyrolignite of iron only gives a brown tint, which harmo- 

 nises well with the natural colour of the parts of the wood which are too 

 close for the pyrolignite to penetrate. 



By introducing a tanning matter after the pyrolignite, ink is produced in the 

 body of the wood, and it is thus tinted either blue or grey. 



By making the wood absorb pyrolignite of iron, and then prussiate of pot- 

 ashes, Prussian blue is produced. 



By introducing successively acetate of lead and chromate of potashes, yellow 

 chromate of lead is formed. 



By introducing into the same trunk pyrolignite of iron, prussiate, acetate 

 of lead, and chromate of potashes, shades of blue, green, yellow, and brown 

 are produced, which have the most varied effects. These compositions, 

 capable of causing so many different colours, may be varied ad infinitum : their 

 application depends on the taste of the operator. Chemistry is sufficiently rich 

 in reactions of this kind to satisfy the most extravagant wants and caprices. 



It is evident on merely mentioning these results, that they have not, and 

 could not have, been found out by chance. The author has drawn them from 

 simple ideas which he had formed of all these phenomena, and these ideas 

 were the results of long, laborious, and close study of the question. The 

 author shows in his memoir the series of labour and reflection which must 

 necessarily have passed through his mind, before arriving at consequences 

 which he has reduced to practice, in itself as simple as it is economical. The 

 ideas and opinions which he sets forth have appeared to the commission to be 

 suitably supported by facts previously known, and by those which he has 

 made pubHc. 



An official of the Office of Waters and Forests, M. Millet d'Aubenton, 

 having made many applications relative to M. Boucherie's proceedings to the 

 Academy, the commission necessarily examined the subject with the greatest 

 care : they declare unanimously that, in their opinion, the pieces sent by M. 

 Millet leave the entire property of the discovery, as far as it is scientifically 

 important and useful in the arts, to M. Boucherie. The idea of impregnating 

 large trees and colouring them with different liquids apphed successively, is 

 secured to M. Boucherie by patents considerably anterior to all the pieces 

 produced by M. Millet. 



In considering the extent of M. Boucherie's labours, the expensive and 

 interesting experiments to which he has devoted himself, the important results 

 he has already obtained, and those which may be hoped for the future, the 

 commission have not merely been satisfied in proposing those measures to the 



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