1905-1906.J 481 



By noting certain characters we are able to identify many 

 kinds of wood. A number of accessory characters were ex- 

 plained, such as the pith of oak being 5-angled, whereas in the 

 walnut it was chambered, causing a defect in the centre plank 

 of each log, while the characters concerning the wood itself 

 could be divided intO' physical and anatomical, the physical 

 characters being more or less bound up together. The hard- 

 ness varies in wood with the compactness of the grain. Some 

 woods feel cold like marble, others feel warm. Further 

 evidence is obtained by the aroma or taste as in the pencil 

 cedar. The burning of wood often afforded a clue, a familiar 

 example being the Chinese joss sticks made from the sawdust 

 of sandal wood. For the anatomical characters all that is re- 

 quired is a smooth surface to the wood and a pocket lens for 

 examining it, and in nine cases out of ten it will show all that 

 is needed to identify a wood. ' The chief point tO' notice is the 

 presence or absence of true pores in the annual rings, and if 

 absent then the wood is coniferous, but if pores are present, it 

 is one of the broad-leaved trees of which a considerable, differ- 

 ence is to be found in the mode of grouping. The different 

 methods of grouping of the other tissue elements were men- 

 tioned, and a number of beautiful sections of woods were thrown 

 on the screen, and the parts pointed out. 



In conclusion the lecturer laid stress upon the fact that 

 anyone taking up the classification of wood as a study will have 

 the satisfaction of finding himself practically on untrodden 

 ground. A scientific key was wanted, but until more investiga- 

 tion was accomplished such a key could not be attempted in a 

 satisfactory way. 



Messrs. Gray, M.R.I.A. ; Welch, M.R.I.A., and Orr having 

 spoken, the lecturer replied, and the proceedings closed. 



"simple mounts for common objects." 



The usual Wednesday meeting was held on February 28th, 

 in the Clubroom, College Square, when Mr. H. L. Orr read a 

 paper on '"Simple Mounts for Common Objects." Mr. W. H. 



