The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1906-01-19
The LoBLoLLY PINE.
An I~nterestipg II port concerning
Recent Tesfs.

tAn AhterestipR ~ port Concerning
Recent Tests.
The forest service department of
agriculture has Just rendered an In.
teresting report concerning tests re-.
Gently made at a large saw mill near
CharieSt0n, to deteil nine Oho strength
OF lobl0lly pine. The c)mpany Oper-
ating the mill has under its control
about As, 900 acres Of loblolly pine land
and 1t was through their Fl >rts that
the department. has been making the
tests mentioned,
Tnis timber which is known on the
local market as North Carolina pine,
forms the greater cart of the lum.
Der OFT at this mill. TIE loblolly pine
forms a useful construction timber
of moderate strength. it is Of cry
rapid growth and reprOduces readily.
For these reasons 1t will remain one
Of the most Important timber trees
In the South. Correct data on It's
strength will be Of permanent value.
1t is found much more convenient
to take the testing machine to the
mill instead Of bringing the large
sticks OF timber to the laboratory from
the mill. The condition to which tho
stock Of timber is subj 'cted after be
ing cut In the fores. d,termine to rome
degree how it will act when pu, in
use where 1t will have to carry q load
or bear q strain. 1t sometimes be.
comes an important matter to know
the history Of the sticks tested. The
logs from which IL Is desired to out
the test pieces, can be selected In the
forest, marked and subsequently iden
titled at the leg pond. A concise his.
tory OF each log Is kept, showing the
location Of tie tire in the forest. the
kind Of soil In which itgrew, the time
of cutting, and the length Of the time
the log lies In the water. On arriving
at the mill, the log Is sawed any way
desired, and can then be tested short
ly- after coming from the saw or laid
aside for the purpose OF air drying OF
kiln drying before testing. e Sery steI
IT Importance In the life OF the log
after cutting Is thus known, and many
p%ecularities which arise In the be.
havior OF sticks when tested can be
explained.
The testing machine Is set up In the
mill and driven by the mill machinery.
The sawyer In the mill saws exactly
the kind Of sticks desired, and the
pieces intended for test are sent di
rectly to the testing machire.r
The plan Of work at Charleston in.
cluded Investigations to determine
the effect Of knots on the strength O.
the timber; the relative strength o,
air dried and kiln dried timber; the
II ct Of rate Of growth upon tht
strength the Influence Of the relative
strength Of sap and heart wood, ane
the influence on the strength Of the
method Of saving.
Judging from the inquiries received
In the service, a widespread interes
Is manifested in this line Of work, ant
without doubt many questions ye'
undecided will be definitely answered
on the completion Ct the tests. TIL,
specifications fer instance unde
which engineers and architects re
ceive joists are very imperfect because
no Il knows the exact degree o.
weakening which arises from tho
presence OF knOts of various sizes an
kinds In the joists. Again there is
common prejudice against Sal
wood on acc Junt of the suppose weak
ness.
The experiments now going on ar
most important and interesting t,
Lumbar men and builders generally
and will be carried on yet for some
ttmo