2 BULLETIN 86, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



composed of four pieces, though two heads were each composed of 

 three pieces. The pieces of the head were joined together with 

 ^-inch hickory dowels. There were two dowels per joint, each 

 about one-third or one-fourth the length of the joint from its end. 



The head and bilge hoops were If inches by 17 gauge, while the 

 quarter hoops were 1£ inches by 18 gauge. The average thick- 

 nesses of hoops used for tension tests (see p. 4) were 0.051 inch 

 and 0.061 inch for the 18 and 17 gauge, respectively, while the U. S. 

 standard gauges of these numbers are 0.05 inch and 0.05625 inch. 



The average hoop spacing, dimensions, weights, and capacities of 

 the barrels are shown on figure 1 . The hoop splices were always 

 placed over the bung stave, and the heads were placed with their 

 end grain toward tins stave as shown in I and II, figure 1 . 



The barrels were received at the laboratory on November 24, and 



were stored in a closed and unheated shed until the tests were begun 



on December 10. 



BARREL TESTS. 



The barrels were brought hi from the storage shed shortly before 

 the time for test. Each barrel was then carefully inspected and the 

 hoops driven tight by a representative of the St. Louis Cooperage 

 Co. Just before test each barrel was completely filled with water, and 

 with the exception of those barrels to which a pressure gauge was 

 attached, was closed with a wooden bung. These bungs, after soaking 

 for a few seconds in warm water, were driven to a tight fit. They 

 were placed with their grain parallel to that of the staves. The bungs 

 bore the brand "U. S. Bung Mfg. Co., Cincinnati, O." No bung 

 straps were used. 



Two barrels of each group were tested in side compression, two in 

 diagonal compression, one each in side and diagonal drop, and two 

 by internal pressure. 



SIDE-COMPRESSION TESTS. 



In this test the barrel was placed between two flat surfaces and 

 compressed in the direction of its diameter. The rate of compression 

 was 0.25 inch per minute. Simultaneous readings of load, com- 

 pression, and loss of water from the barrel were taken. The test 

 was discontinued when one-half the water had escaped. Notes were 

 made of the character and sequence of failures. In about one-half 

 of these tests a pressure gauge was attached to the barrel, and read- 

 ings of internal pressure were taken. The method of test is shown 

 in Plate I. 



DIAGONAL-COMPRESSION TEST. 



In this test the barrel was compressed between two flat surfaces, 

 being supported upon one point of the chime and loaded at a point 

 on the other and diagonally opposite. The rate of compression was 

 0.25 inch per minute. Notes were taken as in the side compression 

 test. The test on the first barrel of each group was discontinued as 



