166 A. Pedler — Corrosion of Lead Linings of Indian Tea Chests. [No. 3, 



when the wood of the box was in a thoroughly seasoned and dry condi- 

 tion, but that in every case where unseasoned wood was used corrosion 

 of the lead was the invariable result. Again, in one instance it is shown 

 that even where seasoned wood was used, if it be afterwards thoroughly 

 saturated with water, it again becomes capable of producing corrosion of 

 tea-lead, though perhaps not so violently as wood in the unseasonsd state. 



It therefore became desirable to determine whether this power of 

 corrosion of tea leads was a property common to unseasoned woods in 

 general, or whether it was only an isolated action due to the use of the wild 

 mango wood, and for this purpose the following ten (10) samples of wood 

 were experimented with. These samples were also prepared and handed 

 over to me by the Indian Tea Association, and I believe they represent 

 wood which may be commonly used for tea boxes. 



The following was the method of procedure. Pairs of planks of the 

 various kinds of wood were prepared about 3 feet long by 8 inches wide. 

 Between each pair a sheet of tea lead was placed and the planks well 

 screwed together. The planks with the tea lead were then exposed to a 

 moist atmosphere for many weeks. The following are the names of the 

 woods and their condition. 



1st Pair. Wild mango wood, damp and unseasoned, the wood of the 

 Mangifera i7idica. 



2nd Pair. Wild mango wood, dry and well- seasoned. Wood of the 

 Mangifera indica. 



3rd Pair. Wild mango wood, dry and well-seasoned, but after these 

 pieces were screwed together, one of them (marked C) was well damped 

 with fresh water and the other left untouched. Wood of the Mangifera 

 indica. 



4th Pair. Dumboil wood, damp and unseasoned, perhaps the Calo- 

 fhyllum inophylluni. 



5th Pair. Jalna wood, damp and unseasoned (ahm-jalna). 



6th Pair. Tulla wood, damp and unseasoned, perhaps wood of the 

 Sterculia alata. 



7th Pair. Sita wood, damp and unseasoned, probably wood of Anona 

 squamosa. 



8th Pair. Satrang wood, damp and unseasoned. 



9th Pair. Bolos wood, damp and unseasoned, probably wood of 

 Juglans plerococea. 



10th Pair. Alodsake wood, damp and unseasoned. 



The following is the description of the condition of the leads on ex- 

 amination. 



No. 1. Both surfaces of lead very largely corroded, and a very consi- 

 derable part of the lead entirely converted into white lead. 



