6 4 
TIMBER AND TIMBER TREES. [chap. 
In these tables are recorded the results of 108 ex¬ 
periments on the crushing strains applied to specimens 
of English Oak timber, varying from small pieces with 
only I inch of base, and i inch in height, carrying 
7,978 lbs., to larger pieces with no inches of base, and 
<21 inches in height, carrying 734,272 lbs., or 327 tons 
16 cwt., before breaking. The intermediate sizes include 
some pieces with 36 inches of base and 36 inches in 
height, this being the greatest length upon which I have 
been able to bring the crushing force to bear. 
It is to be regretted that these experiments could 
only be carried on with pieces of inconsiderable length, 
owing to the difficulty experienced in keeping the 
centres perfectly straight with the line of pressure. Still, 
enough has, I hope, been done to afford a fair guide 
for determining the scantlings for pillars to beams, &c., 
although, perhaps, there is not even yet sufficient data 
to construct a formula upon. 
M. Rondelet ascertained that it took a force of 
5,000 to 6,000 lbs. to crush a piece of Oak having 
1 inch of base ; and Mr. Rennie gives 3,860 lbs. as the 
force required to crush a similar piece 1 inch in height. 
These two statements vary considerably from each 
other, and also from my own experience, inasmuch as 
I found it required a force of 7,978 lbs., or 3-562 tons 
weight, to crush a i-inch cube of seasoned Oak ; vide 
Table XVI. 
In a trial, however, of six pieces of unseasoned Oak 
of the same dimensions, it was found that it took upon 
an average only 5,367 lbs., or 2-396 tons — one piece 
requiring only 4,480lbs., or 2 tons, to crush it; vide 
Table XV. 
The experiments upon seasoned cubes of Oak, of 2, 
3, and 4 inches (Table XVI.) show that the force re- 
