212 
Oil the Use of Home-()ruivn Timber. 
Thrusting /S/jtss. 
stress in lbs. per ', Stress in lbs. per 
No, Sfiuiire liicli. 
lbs. 
1 3325 
2790 
3 2638 
4 2448 
Mean .. 2800 
No. .Square Incli. 
lbs. 
1 3305 
2 2832 
3 2722 
4 2288 
Moan .. 2787 
The four pieces of wood marked A were from a tree cut down 
last year and sawn up this winter. They were not steeped in 
lime solution. 
The Avood marked B was from the same tree, and was sawn 
out at the same time. It was steeped in lime solution for about 
three weeks. 
Any comment upon these figures is superfluous, but the result 
arrived at is I think very satisfactory, for, while under the thrustlnsj 
stress there appears to be little or no difference between the two 
conditions of wood, in the case of the pulling test the difference 
is greatly in favour of the prepared wood. 
Having given these short explanations of chemical and me- 
chanical advantages, I have only to add a statement o( the means 
by which the steeping is effected. 
Pits or ponds may be constructed, varying in size and position 
with the locality in which they are made, and the quantity of 
timber to be soaked. The simpler their character the more pro- 
fitable their use, A common pond, from which cattle can be 
excluded, is perhaps the best soaking tank that can be adopted. 
All that is essential is to have depth and size sufficient to steep 
and hold timber of all characters and dimensions that may be 
required upon the estate, and it is unnecessary to say that a little 
outlay in the first instance to make the tank sufficiently com- 
modious may be a means of saving in the end. Having 
secured a good supply of water in the tank, the next point 
is to immerse in it a sufficient quantity of lime to satisfy the 
water, that is, to feed it with all it is capable of absorbing 
and retaining — thus in fact, iin})regnating the water completely 
with lime. To render this intelligible, we will assume that it 
is intended to make it a steeping tank or pond 50 feet long and 
20 feet wide ; this if filled with water G feet deep, will contain 
37,500 gallons. As it requires only 88 grains of chalk or stone 
lime to impregnate one gallon of water, 4(5 lbs. of lime will 
satisf}' this quantity of Avater if equally distributed through its 
bulk ; but as it is better to make sure of uniform effect, such a 
