242 The N.Z. Journal of Science and Technology. [July 
Aluminium Sulphate. -—This salt, either alone or in conjunction with 
zinc chloride, has been tried by Hubertumuhle in Germany, and was tested 
using (1) A1 2 (S0 4 ) 3 , 2 per cent, (specific gravity 1-013) ; (2) equal parts of 
both salts. 
Descriptions of Treatment and Comparison of Results. 
Fungus-bed Tests .—In these tests pegs of standard dimensions, 12 in. 
by 1 \ in. by \ in., were inserted in an infected plot, and examined from 
time to time to note the progress of the decay, if any. Sufficient time 
having elapsed, the pegs were all withdrawn, their identification marks 
noted, along with the degree of decay, this latter being based on a purely 
arbitrary scale, taking for a basis the decay of control pieces, which 
crumbled on slight pressure, as 100 units. All other degrees of decay may 
for practical purposes be taken as percentages thereof. 
Care in repetition of the examination of so many pieces removed any 
early errors in gauging the correct degree of decay, so that the figures 
given below may be taken as representing within experimental error the 
proper numerical relation between the test pieces at the termination of the 
test. 
The chief timber chosen was the New Zealand beech Fagus Menziesii , 
since it is the most important from this point of view. Other timbers have 
been used for both absolute and relative purposes— e.g., rimu and kahikatea 
'(white-pine). The chief importance of the results is that they give material 
for estimating probable cost of treatment, as well as the relative values of 
the different methods. It has been thought advisable on this account 
to record the tables in full. The weights before and after treatment were 
taken, unfortunately, on the metric system, but in the case of full-cell treat¬ 
ment, &c., these figures have been converted into pounds. To convert 
any of the figures into pounds avoirdupois, divide by 1,000 and multiply 
by 2-2. Details of the method were stated previously, so that I will proceed 
to the tabular results and the conclusions based thereon. In this and the 
subsequent tables, test 1 is cold dip, test 2 is hot dip, and test 3 is full-cell 
treatment. 
Table III.—Creosote (N.Z.R.) Tests. 
Name of Wood. 
Test. 
Weight 
before. 
Weight after. 
Decay. 
Grammes of 
Creosote per 
Cubic Foot. 
Pounds of 
Creosote per 
Cubic Foot. 
1 1 
Red-beech 
1 
Grammes. 
89-97 
Grammes. 
91-92 
20 
384 
0-8 
White-pine heart . . 
1 
48-05 
49-05 
30 
288 
0-6 
White-pine sap 
1 
43-80 
47-60 
20 
768 
17 
Red-beech 
2 
89-25 
103-15 
20 
760 
1:6 
White-pine heart . . 
2 
43-40 
46-70 
10 
632 
1-3 
White-pine sap 
2 
38-15 
46-77 
20 
1,592 
35 
Red-beech 
3 
95-15 
134-57 
7.551 
152 
White-pine heart . . 
3 
45-27 
72-45 
5.176 
11 4 
White-pine sap 
3 
40-77 
93-80 
10,160 
223 
