528 DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS. 



The scope and purpose of the timber tests may be briefly summarized 

 as follows: 



Series A.— Tests of the mechanical and physical properties of timber as found on 

 the market: Actual sizes and grades of commercial products "will be used. The 

 purpose is to determine moduli for design ; to ascertain the value of woods 

 now considered inferior; to determine the liabilty to knots and their reducing 

 effect on the strength of timbers; to arrange a table of standard weights and 

 rules of inspection and grading, and to compare the properties of the same 

 species from different regions. 



Tests to determine the effects of variations in the testing process: 



Series B— Effect of rate of application of load, including impact tests. 

 Series C— EfiEect of moisture. 



Studies of the effect and efficiency of technological processes: 

 Series D— Preservatives. 

 Series E— Methods of seasoning. 

 Series F — Fire retardants. 

 Series G — EfEect of forest conditions. 



The Bureau of Forestry is now conducting timber tests at three 

 laboratories. The Washington laboratory, in addition to the execu- 

 tion of tests assigned to it, has general supervision over the other 

 laboratories and the direction of their work. These are the labora- 

 tories at New Haven, in which the Bureau is cooperating in timber 

 tests with the Yale Forest School, and the laboratory at Berkeley, 

 in which similar cooperation is going on with the University of 

 California. 



The tests at present being made under Series A include tests of the 

 Pacific Coast Red Fir and Hemlock, of Longleaf Pine, and of second- 

 growth Loblolly Pine. An investigation of the mechanical properties 

 of the Southern gums is planned for the immediate future. Series B 

 and C are under way. Efforts are now being made to secure the 

 cooperation of those interested in outlining a scheme for investigation 

 under Series D. Work upon Series F and G has not yet begun. 



Testing Longleaf Pine beams, measuring 12 by 16 inches, was the 

 first work undertaken at the Washington laboratory. Thirteen full- 

 sized beams were broken, and many small pieces taken from them 

 were subjected to minor tests, such as those for resistance to compres- 

 sion and shearing. The testing was done in accordance with the 

 standard practice ; but new features were the photographing of all 

 four sides and the two ends of each beam, and the recording of its 

 actual market grade. After the series of tests is complete these addi- 

 tional records will be valuable in determining the reason for unusual 

 strength or weakness. The tests of market timber will also serve to 

 check the values obtained by the Division of Forestry in former tests 

 of material, which were not conducted as described. During the year 

 the results of the workuponLongleaf Pine were tabulated, and experi- 

 ments were conducted to determine the moisture in the beams tested 

 at Berkeley and New Haven. Tests upon second-growth Loblolly 

 Pine were begun. 



The work of the laboratory at New Haven, in cooperative work 

 begun in September, 1902, comprised the testing of 14 Longleaf Pine 

 beams, together with numerous minor tests of smaller specimens cut 

 from them. The work of this laboratory for the immediate future 

 will consist in an investigation to determine the best methods for 

 making timber tests and the effect on the results of tests of such 

 factors as speed of application of load and the amount of moisture 

 and of volatile oils in the timber tested. The laboratory is equipped 



