AN AUSTRALIAN FOREST PRODUCTS LABORATORY. 
I have been both the victim of and a principal in such bad practice, 
so I can speak with some authority. I know also that similar conditions 
apply in other States than Western Australia. 
If the Forest Products Laboratory is to justify its existence, it should 
have on its staff at least a few highly trained specialists for a start. It 
will produce others as its work develops. 
Scorpr or tHe Work oF THE LABoRATORY. 
The general functions of a Forest Products Laboratory are well enough 
understood by members of this conference, but there are some aspects 
that need consideration. It is necessary to define the scope of the work, 
particularly as regards certain subjects. For example, in India the 
Forestry Research Institute at Dehra undertakes sylvicultural research. 
There certainly seems to be a necessity for some central’ control of this 
work if much overlap is to be avoided. The actual work, however, 
would best be done by State forest officers working to a central plan. 
There seems to be no need, however, to attach this to the Forest Products 
Laboratory, unless the various State services did unite in a scheme and 
wished to centre it all in one officer, who could be housed in the 
laboratory. pe 
Another section of work which is carried out at both Dehra and 
Madison 1s the economic study of lumbering questions, mill scale, studies 
of yarious species, and a comparison of cost of production under various 
grading rules. Investigations of logging and milling practice to deter- 
mine improvements in production and utilization. These and other 
related questions are studied in this section. However, such studies 
are now, and probably will remain, the province of State forestry 
services. 
The principal lines of investigation at the laboratory would be 
under three main heads :— : 
1. Timber Mechanics and Physics; 
2. Chemical Investigations; 
3. Pathology. 
Under the first heading would come the strength tests (1) of small 
clean specimens, (2) of large beams, and (3) of timber for various 
specific purposes, (4) of built-up structure, (5) of boxes, barrels, &c., 
and (6) of timber treated by seasoning or preserving. It would also 
include the microscopic study of timber and the relation of structure to 
properties, and studies in seasoning. 
The chemical section would include the investigation of gums, oils, 
resins, and other minor products, tanning and paper studies, methods 
of utilizing waste, such as distillation, conversion to alcohol, &¢., pre- 
servation studies, &e. 
The pathology section would include studies in timber diseases and 
methods of prevention and cure, and also joint work with the preserva- . 
tion section. 
Co-opmrAtIon witH Lypusrries. 
The laboratory should be intimately associated in as many ways 
as possible with the industries using forest.products. If it is to succeed 
i must interest these industries, and to do so it must educate and serve 
them. 
0.7745.—5 305 
