deck and planking purposes (for which it was judged to be especially suitable), in place of Baltic Fir and Pine timber.
It disappointed, however, the expectations of the officers, as it was soon found to shrink so excessively, that it was impossible to keep it weather or water-tight; in consequence of this it was removed from the ship. The remains of the parcel therefore passed into conversion for the most common and ordinary services, and, of the board produced, much was used for berthing in the timber sheds. It stood the test of exposure in such situations for fully eight years without showing any signs of decay, but exhibited a disposition to warp and shrink far exceeding that of any other wood in present use in carpentry.
The subjoined Table, No. CXXXIX., shows that the Russian Larch is slightly deficient in transverse strength, as compared with the Firs and Pines; but, otherwise, it is above their average.
| Number of the specimen. |
Deflections. | Total weight required to break each piece. |
Specific gravity. |
Weight reduced to specific gravity 600. |
Weight required to break 1 square inch. | ||
| With the apparatus weighing 390 lbs. |
After the weight was removed. |
At the crisis of breaking. | |||||
| Inches. | Inch. | Inches. | lbs. | lbs. | |||
| 1 | 1.25 | .15 | 4.5 | 743 | 688 | 648 | 185.75 |
| 2 | 1.5 | .15 | 5.0 | 714 | 697 | 615 | 178.50 |
| 3 | 1.5 | .00 | 475 | 708 | 645 | 658 | 177.00 |
| 4 | 1.75 | .25 | 3.85 | 504 | 6l8 | 489 | 126.00 |
| 5 | 1.75 | .15 | 4.15 | 568 | 647 | 527 | 142.00 |
| 6 | 1.65 | .35 | 375 | 519 | 583 | 534 | 129.75 |
| Total | 9.40 | 1.05 | 26.00 | 3756 | 3878 | 3471 | 939.00 |
| Average | 1.566 | .175 | 4.33 | 626 | 646.3 | 578 | 156.5 |
Remarks.— All broke with a moderate length of fracture.
