54 
TIMBER AND TIMBER TREES. [chap. 
In the specimens marked i to 6, the greatest strength 
was possessed by the piece taken from close to the 
centre of the log, which comprised the oldest and densest 
annual layers, while No. 6, which was farthest lemoved 
from it, and contained the most recently perfected dura¬ 
men, proved to be the weakest, the respective breaking 
weights showing a difference of nearly 4 2 per cent. 
Turning to the specimens marked T to 6', taken from 
the other side of the tree, we find a similar result as 
regards the inner and the outer layers, the greatest 
strength being again near to the centre of the tree; 
No. 5', however, bearing the next greatest strain. The 
pieces Nos. 2', 3', 4', and 6', each broke as the weight 
of the scale was applied, and are therefore of little 
value. 
We may gather, however, from the trial, that from 
the centre to the circumference of this tree there was 
clearly a diminution of strength, which, although not 
quite proportionate to the decrease observed in the 
specific gravity of the several pieces, is yet in some 
degree approximate to it. 
I infer from this that the tree had not reached 
maturity when it was cut down, and that it was still 
in the prime of life. Had it been otherwise, we should 
have expected, when viewed by the light of other 
experiments, to find that the point of density and 
greatest strength would lie in the piece maikcd 4 > cu 
even farther removed from the centre. 
There can be very little doubt that the wood of 
this tree, if used in its greatest bulk, or in any large 
scantlings, would have been found to possess fully the 
average strength of Oak timber, and that it was only 
weak in certain parts, as discovered on trial when cut 
into strips of 2 inches square. There still remains, 
