Indian Forest Records. 
[Vol. VII 
-M 
( b) Seasoning in the open. 
(c) Seasoning under shelter with a free circulation of air. 
(d) Seasoning first in water and afterwards under shade, with 
free circulation of air. 
(e) The effect of burying timber in the tidal creeks and then 
seasoning under shade in the open. 
(ii) The effect of felling at different times of the year, and in 
this connection (a) to ascertain the best season of the 
year in which to fell timber, (b) to ascertain the amount 
of moisture in the sap and heart-wood respectively at 
different periods of the year, (c) to ascertain the rate of 
absorption and re-evaporation of moisture from timber 
immersed in water, i.e., after having been dried under 
shade in the open, ( d ) to ascertain the rate of seasoning of 
the timber under heads (i) (a) to (c), and ( e ) to ascertain 
the relative absorption of water by green and seasoned 
timber. 
(in) The effect produced by converting certain timbers when 
green and in a dry state, and in this connection the best 
methods of— 
(a) Seasoning and stacking such timber. 
(b) To study the question of the discolouration of timber 
converted before or after seasoning. 
(c) To study the question of immersion of timber in connec¬ 
tion with discolouration. 
(iv) To study the results obtained by applying Ligno, Loracine, 
tar and cowdung to the ends of logs while seasoning and 
the use, if any, of metal clamps to prevent timber in the 
log and when converted into sleepers, from splitting. 
(v) To study the amount of contraction across the grain which 
takes place in timber of various species while seasoning. 
(vi) To study the effect of barking trees on the mode and rate 
of seasoning. 
3. In order to-carry out so extensive an enquiry as is outlined above, 
and especially as many portions of the enquiry will extend over several 
years, it is absolutely necessary to work out in detail each item of en¬ 
quiry and to select such species with which to carry out the investiga¬ 
tion, as will ultimately give the most useful results to the Department. 
The Conservators in answering the letter addressed to them on this subject 
have suggested species with which, in their opinion, test should be made 
and. in the majority of cases, these will be dealt with in this enquiry. 
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