322 
TIMBER AND TIMBER TREES. [chap. 
carbonising timber by means of inflammable gas (either 
pure hydrogen, or, better still, lighting gas) directed 
by means of a tube against every part to be carbonised, 
just as one would direct a jet of water from a fire- 
engine upon the flame to be extinguished. A trial of it 
was made at Cherbourg in presence of the Director of 
Naval Works and numerous other witnesses, and it is 
said this was crowned with complete success. The 
absence of all danger from fire was clearly proved, 
and this of course removed the principal objection 
to its introduction in the dockyards. The cost, it 
appeared from calculations made at the gas-meter 
of the town, with the aid of an accountant, did not 
exceed one penny per square metre for gas and labour 
together. 
M. de Lapparent holds that, the surface being once 
thoroughly dried, the juices of the interior will remain 
inactive, and the durability of the timber be thereby 
insured. 
I experimented with this process at Woolwich in 
1862, by charring seven out of twelve pieces of winter- 
felled British Oak, prepared to a scantling of 2" x 2" x 
84" and disposed of them as follows: for instance, 
Nos. 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 were carbonised, and Nos. 
1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 were not carbonised. Of the former, 
Nos. 3 and 10, and of the latter, Nos. 1 and 2, were 
suspended in a dry place in the store room ; Nos. 7, 8, 
and 9, and Nos. 4, 5, and 6, were put into a box of 
manure; Nos. 11 and 12 were driven half their length 
into damp earth, on the stacking ground. 
