10 UTILIZATION OF CALIFORNIA EUCALYPTS. 
testing machine. In the case of compression perpendicular to the 
grain the tests are made by placing a piece of metal 2 inches wide 
across the test specimen as it lies flat on the platform of the machine 
and pressing the piece of metal against the block of wood by means 
of the crosshead of the machine. This test is carried only slightly 
beyond the elastic limit of the wood under test, since loading beyond 
that point has at present no significance. The action is similar to 
that of a rail on a tie. 
Fic. 2.—Eucalyptus poles. Newark, Cal. 
In making a shearing test the block is clamped firmly in a frame 
with the lip projecting. The frame is placed on the platform of 
the machine and the lip sheared off by applying a sliding plate to 
the upper surface of the lip in a direction parallel to the grain. 
The moisture condition of the tested pieces is determined by cut- 
ting an inch section from them and drying the section at 100° C. 
until it ceases to lose weight. The loss in weight expressed in per 
cent of the dry weight indicates the moisture content of the piece at 
the time of the test. 
[Cir. 179] 
