196 J. V. DE COQUE. 



can to a considerable degree be overcome. I am well aware that 

 some gentlemen, thoroughly competent to judge, contend that the 

 process of steaming and hot air drying to a more or less degree 

 lessens the strength of the timber, but presuming such to be the 

 case, can we not with perfect safety sacrifice a little of this strength 

 when such satisfactory results may otherwise be obtained'? This 

 process has not yet got beyond the extent of treating flitches no 

 larger than say 6" to 8" inches thick. A chamber specially fitted 

 up for the purpose is filled with flitches and scantling of all sizes ; 

 each piece is stacked so as to allow space between. The chamber 

 is then charged with steam for a certain time. The effect of this 

 is to as it were to open the pores of the skin of the timber, and the 

 juices commence to shed rapidly, mixing with the condensed steam 

 producing by contact with the iron-work of the chamber, a black 

 liquid of the consistency of writing ink. When these juices 

 cease to flow the steam is shut off. The whole of the timber in 

 the chamber is now charged with condensed steam, which of 

 course must be removed, and it is at this point the great difficulty 

 presents itself. The use of the thermometer in regulating the 

 exact degree of heat or hot air, so that the process of slowly 

 extracting the moisture may go on day by day requires infinite 

 care and great experience, for it should be remembered that the 

 steaming process has already reduced the timber to a highly 

 sensitive condition with its cells open ready to discharge. Should 

 these cells be closed quickly by too much heat before they become 

 thoroughly empty, the result is of course failure. 



We have such a variety of different timbers, hardly any two of 

 which require the same treatment, yet it appears to me that as soon 

 as the question of the actual degree of heat required for each 

 species is regulated, Ave may look forward to the solution of this 

 important question, which I have reason to know is at the present 

 time engaging the attention of one who is thoroughly in earnest 

 in his experiments and sanguine of success. I have been shown 

 some hardwoods treated by this process, and they leave nothing 

 to be desired. 



