CHAP. X.] 
BRITISH OAK. 
59 
to be of better quality than those referred to in Table 
VII. The following are the results :— 
Table XIV. 
Tensile Experiments. 
Number 
of the 
specimen. 
Dimensions of 
each piece. 
Specific 
gravity. 
Weight the 
pieces broke 
with. 
Direct cohe¬ 
sion on 1 
square inch. 
Inches. 
lbs. 
lbs. 
43 
h 
/ 
IOO3 
35»56o 
8,890 
44 
IOO5 
31.360 
7,840 
45 
1002 
33,600 
8,400 
46 
2 X 2 X 30 
905 
33,040 
8,260 
47 
720 
24,640 
6,160 
48 
t 
V 
725 
23,5 2 0 
5,880 
Total. . 
5360 
181,720 
45,430 
Average . 
893 
30,287 
7,57i 
Very little appears to be known of the amount of 
resistance offered by British Oak to a crushing force, 
when applied in the direction of its fibres. Some 
experiments of the kind have, it is true, been made, 
both in this and in other countries, but the results, as 
published, are far from being satisfactory, inasmuch as 
they vary to a great extent, as between author and 
author, and afford no reliable measure of the strain to 
which a pillar or column can be safely loaded. 
The difficulty of carrying out these experiments is 
indeed so great, and withal so extremely tedious, that 
it is no matter of surprise more has not been done in 
this direction. I have, therefore, with the view of 
supplying a want long felt, availed myself of every 
opportunity to extend this important inquiry, by experi¬ 
menting not only upon English Oak timber, but upon 
perhaps a greater variety of woods than has ever before 
been attempted. 
