417 
In this connection I would invite attention to a paper entitled, " The want of 
a uniform system in experimenting upon timber," by F. A. Campbell, C.E., Proc. Roy. 
Soc., Victoria, 9th December, 1886. Mr. Campbell summarises as follows the 
circumstances which affect the results in timber tests : 
1. Age of tree. 
2. Nature of locality where grown. 
3. Part of tree from which timber is taken. 
4. Length of time seasoned. 
5. Deflection as affecting the bending moment of a beam. 
6. Size of piece tested. 
A modern author who insists on the necessity of so selecting his pieces of 
timber that the tests of them will be comparable, is Mr. G. A. Julius, whose remarks will 
be found in the works quoted at p. 424. 
I know of nothing which appeals so directly to one as illustrative of variation, 
as the difficulty that presents itself to engineers in the selection and preparation of 
timbers for the purpose of their tests. Distinguished engineers do all in their power 
to eliminate anomalies and render their results comparable, and yet (through no fault 
of their own) they often fail as regards the latter. 
Since the above was written I have seen an admirable short paper, " Standardising 
timber tests," by L. H. Boas in " The Australian Forestry Journal," March, 1920, 
p. 75). 
The following records of engineering tests are referred to under the various 
States. I have been at some pains to record some of the earlier tests, but they are 
the compilation of a botanist, and an engineer will complete the references : 
TASMANIA. 
1851. " On the strength, durability, and value of the timber of the Blue Gum* 
of Tasmania, and of some other Eucalyptsf for ship-building." With tables, by James 
Mitchell. (Papers and Procs., Roy. Soc., Van Diemen's Land, vol. ii, Part I, 1852. 
12th Nov., 1851.) 
The apparatus used for testing the transverse strength consists of two strong pieces of frame-work, 
7 feet asunder, attached to the sides of a small building. The deflection was measured upon a scale 
attached to the wood by a silk thread stretched over the frame-work by plummets, in the same manner 
as described by Professor Barlow. The weights (56 Ib. and under) were placed upon a scale hung upon 
the middle of the wood by means of a J-inch iron-eye, 2 inches square. 
The weights were then placed upon the scale until the deflection amounted to half an inch, when 
they were removed, and the wood was permitted to resume its original straight form; the weights were 
then replaced, and removed at each succeeding eighth of an inch of deflection, until the wood was 
observed to lose, however slightly, the power to recover its rectilineal form; a failure in this respect, 
amounting to the diameter of the thread, was sufficient to determine its character for elasticity, after 
which the weights were continued until the fracture took place. 
* E. glo/niliis. f E. viminalu and K. ohliqua. 
