The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1906-01-17
The LOBIOLLY PINE.
An Interesting Report Concerning
Recent Tess.

The forest service department Of
agriculture has just rendered an In.
tereS6lug report concerning tests re-
Gently made at large saw mill near
Charleston, to determine tbe strength
of oblolly pine. The Company opef-
ating the mill has under its control
about 45, 900 acres of loblollv pine land
aud it was through their f 'rts that
the department has been meking the
tests mentioned.
Tnis timber which Is known on the
local market as North Carolina pine,
forms the greater rart of the lum
Der ort at this mill. The loblol]y pine
forms a useful construction timber
Of moderate strength, 1t is OF very
rapid growth and reproduces readily.
For these reasons it will remain one
of the most important timber trees
in the South. Correct data on its
strength will be Of permanent value.
It Is found much more convenient
to take the testing machine to tn
niil instead Of bringing the large
sticks of timber to the laboratory from
the mill. The condition to which the
stock of timber Is sui cted after be.
ing cut In the fores determine to some
degree how it will act when put 10
use where it will have to Carry q load
ur bear a strain. 1t sometimes be-
comes an important matter to know
the history OF the site Is testod. Thy
logs from which it Is desired to CUT
the test pieces, can be selected In the
rest, marked and subsequently, iden
tilted at the log pond. A concise his
tory Of each log Is kept, snowing the
location Of the tree in the forest, the
kind OF soil in which itgreW, the time
of cutting, and the length OF the time
che log lice a the water. On arriving
at the mill, the log Is saved any way
desired, and can then be tested short
" af fer coming from the saw or laid
aside for the purpose Of air drying OF
kilu dry ing before testing. Every step
i importance in the lie or the. leg
after cutting is thus known, and many
pecularlties which arise IT, the be-
havior of sticks when tested can be
explained.
1hs testing machine Is set up In the
mill and driven by the mill machinery.
the sawyer In the mill sawy exactly
the kind of sticks deslrec, and the
pieces intended for test ara sent di.
rectly to the testing machire.
The plan Of work at Charleston in
cludsd Investigations to determine
the effect of knots on the strength Of
the timber; the relative strength OF
air dried and kiln dried timber; the
: # ,ct of rate Of growth upon the
s5rengtt; the influence Of the relative
strength of sap and heart wood, and
the influence on the strength OF the
method Of saving.
Judging from the inquiries received
In the service. q widespread interest
Is manifested In this line Of work, and
without doubt many questions yet
undecided will be definitely answered
on the completion cf the tests. The
specifications fer instance under
which engineers and architects re-
ceive joists are very imperfect because
no one knows the exact degree OF
weakening which arises from the
presence OF knots of various sizes anc
kinds In the joists. Again there Is
common prejudice against SAL
wood on account Of the suppose weak
ness. l..
The experiments now going on are
most important and lDtere resting tt
lumber men and builders generally,
and will be carried on yet for some
| time.