GLEAN INGS 
IN 
SCIENCE. 
JVo. 8 Jlugust , 1829. 
I .— Results of a Second Series of Experiments on the Elasticity mid 
Transverse Strength of the Principal Indian Woods. By Captain 
H. C. Baker, Superintendent Iron Suspension Bridges. 
The specimens on which the following experiments were made, consisted, besides 
many of the varieties which formed the subject of the first series, of some novel- 
ties, of which the following enumeration may he given. 
Lance Wood, oa Men aba's, of the province of Tavoy, a very tough, elastic 
wood, of box yellow colour ; used for knife bandies, spear shafts, See. ; would pro- 
bably answer well for bows, buggy shafts, and poles of carriages, and turnery. 
Kussum — a close hut cross grained wood of tough fibre ; would probably an- 
swer well for naves and felloes of wheels, perhaps spokes ; the lateral cohesion of 
the fibres considerable ; used in the hills for sledges for extricating the timbers ; 
is produced in abundance, and yields timbers of 26 to 32 feet average length, five or 
six feet mean girt ; said to be unassailable by white ants and other insects. 
Kassu'mah — not very abundant, 26 to 40 feet average length, five to seven 
feet girt ; stated to be in the hills used for “ boats and beams this appears, like 
the Vussooh, a very brittle but close wood ; yields suddenly ; of a light red colour, 
would probably answer better for furniture than engineering purposes, in which I 
should say, it was decidedly unfit to be trusted ; said to be proof against worms and 
white ants. 
Pandar, of straight coarse fibre ; abundant, 26 to 40 feet length, five to 
seven girt; a dingy yellow colour, almost resembling the Gumbhar ; used in the 
hills for boxes, doors and pannellings ; would probably do extremely well for sealing 
ladders, planking of ammunition boxes, ship masts and spars ; combines lightness 
and strength, and is said to be proof against worms. 
Dho'ri, abundant., of large size, but warps much, and is said to be perishable ; 
of a dark brown colour. 
Assa'n, abundant, 26 to 40 feet, five to seven girt ; used in the hills for planks, 
and spokes of hackeries— in structure like oak ;is regular in its deflections, and tole- 
rably elastic ; may probably prove a very valuable wood in the gun-carriage, and 
powder barrel manufactories, for framing and wheel-making, cheeks and transoms ; 
said to be proof against insects. 
Pa njar, tolerably abundant, attains considerable growth ; said to be employ- 
ed for boxes, tables, planking, and ploughs ; a very dense, tough, and elastic wood, 
hut rather knotty ; would answer admirably for either struts or ties where gravity 
is not of much consequence. For poles of rarriages, buggy shafts, naves, felloes 
and spokes of wheels, rather than for planking or pannelling, I should think it 
suitable ; its colour, a dingy yellow like the Paundur. 
J amu UAH, very abundant, and attains large size; lightish red colour; used in 
boat building, and said to be very durable in fresh water ; tough in fibre, but cross 
grained ; not subject to the ravages of worms or white ants. 
Seriss, very abundant, 20 to 29 feet long, seven to eight in girt; a good deal 
resembles Sissooh,both in structure and colour ; used only in making wheels in the 
hills ; not subject to the ravages of worms or white ants. 
Karmai'n, very abundant and of large growth ; a bright opaqne yellow co- 
lour; used in the hills, in making furniture of all kinds, boxes and light pannelling 
or picture frames, modelling blinds and Venetians, organ pipes and wainscotting ; 
it will probably prove very valuable, but does not appear calculated for heavy stress 
of any kind ; unassailable, it is said, by white ants, &c. 
