OCT.- — dec. 1857.] Mode of protecting Timber from Fire. 125 



the protection of wood from fire, practically tested at some of the 

 camps or stations. 



It was ultimately arranged that a proper trial of the process 

 should be instituted at Chatham, under the direction of Colonel 

 Sandham, R. E. 



The nature of the experiments performed at Chatham, and the 

 results obtained, are detailed in the following official report : — 



Report on Experiments at Chatham, from Colonel Sandham, R. E., 

 and F. A. Abel, Esq., 1st March 1856 ; to the Inspector Gene- 

 ral of Fortifications. 



Sir, 



We have the honor to inform you that some experiments with 

 silicate of soda applied in conjunction with lime-wash, as a means 

 of protecting wood from fire, and of retarding its combustibility, 

 have been made at Chatham, on a sufficient scale to determine 

 practically the value of this agent, if applied as a. preservative to 

 camp-huts. 



The following is an account of these experiments, and of the re- 

 sults obtained. 



A small single-boarded hut was built in the model Battery, the 



material used in its construction being of the description usually 

 employed for camp huts. 



It was provided with one door, and a window-opening on one 

 side, closed by a shutter.* 



After the hut was completed, certain portions of it were prepared, 

 on the 8th and 9th of January, with the silicate of soda in the fol- 

 lowing manner : 



* The hut was 14 feet by 10 feet, 6 feet high at eaves, and 9 feet at ridge ; it 

 was constructed of | inch deal weather boarding, on quarters and rafters of deal, 

 3 inch by 2 inch Door, 6 feet 6 inches by 2 feet 9 inches, of 1 inch deal, and win- 

 dow 3 feet by 2 feet, closed by a shutter of 1 inch deal. Floor of 1 inch deal, on 

 fir joists, 4 inches by 2 inches, the upper surface of floor being 6 inches above the 

 ground. Both sides of the walls from o to s, and from v to n, were prepared. The 

 insides of the portions a 6, c d were painted with common oil paint in three coats, 

 that at a b being laid on the prepared part, while that at c d was laid on the un- 

 prepared part. 



