26 
Indian Forest Records. 
[VOL. III. 
The Government of Burma reported in April 1901 that certain scant¬ 
lings vulcanized by the Haskin process had been fixed in the ground 
at Rangoon for observation. Twenty-two species of timber were treated 
and laid down together with similar pieces of untreated timber. The 
results showed that after about one year practically all the treated scant¬ 
lings, which numbered 24 in all were slightly cracked, that two had been 
attacked by white-ants and that the remainder were sound. The un¬ 
treated scantlings numbered 56 in all. When examined about a year 
after being placed in an open line, all were found to be more or less 
cracked, while 2 were attacked by white-ants, 6 were pitted by white-ants 
and also decaying, and 3 showed signs of decaying without being attack¬ 
ed by white-ants. The results of this experiment prove little or nothing 
nor does the experiment appear to have been carried further. The Vul¬ 
canizing Company have many certificates to prove the value of the pro¬ 
cess, including one from America which states that slepeers under heavy 
conditions of wear and exposure have been experimented on with satis¬ 
factory results. 
A report from the Chief Engineer, Great Western Railway, London, 
on an experiment made with 400 Haskinized sleepers is not altogether 
satisfactory. He states that it did not appear to stop the tendency to the 
development of fungi, and that it further appeared to have the effect of 
causing the white wood in the sleepers to perish at an unreasonably early 
period of its existence. 
Summary. 
The principles that underlie the system are sound enough, though 
the results so far obtained in India are not altogether encouraging. On 
the other hand, no very satisfactory experiments have as yet been carried 
out in this country, so that to condemn the system for India would be 
premature. It appears that if by the process it is possible to convert the 
albumens and especially such substances as the oleo-resins present in Dip- 
terocarps and other species into antiseptics, the results might be quite 
satisfactory. Nothing but actual experiments carried out on proper lines 
can prove the value of this process for India. To arrive at any definite 
conclusions only those species which contain large quantities of albumin¬ 
ous substances or in which much resin or oleo-resin is present should as a 
commencement be tested, otherwise the fundamental principles on -which 
the whole process is based will not be given effect to, and the process will 
riot receive a fair trial. 
( 99 ) 
