viii PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION. 



the late Author, was a serious one, because it was at 

 once evident that I must almost entirely re-write 

 some parts of the book, and make material alterations 

 and additions in others. 



I have, wherever practicable, retained the numerous 

 Tables of Experiments and the Illustrations of the 

 First Edition. At the same time, it should be noted 

 that much has been done to advance our knowledge 

 of the technical properties of timber since Laslett 

 wrote, and the reader should consult the works of 

 Bauschinger, Rankine, Unwin, Lanza, and others, for 

 further experimental details on the strength of timber 

 as building material. In this connection, I have espe- 

 cially to thank Mr. W. J. Luke for valuable suggestions 

 and assistance in revising the Tables and calculations 

 of the First Edition, and particularly corrections re- 

 garding the formulae on p. loi and the Appendix. 



Those familiar with the First Edition will notice 

 that I have completely altered the arrangement of 

 the work in so far as to bring the timbers of the 

 "broad-leaved," or Dicotyledonous trees together, as 

 contrasted with those of the Conifers, in each case 

 treating of them according to the part of the world 

 they are found in. Important additions have been 

 made as regards the timbers of India, Australia, the 



