PART IX—ASSOCIATED SCIENTIFIC
INSTITUTIONS

FOREST PRODUCTS LABORATORY
STATE LABORATORY OF HYGIENE
UNITED STATES WEATHER BUREAU
WASHBURN OBSERVATORY
WISCONSIN GEOLOGICAL AND NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY
STATE TOXICOLOGICAL LABORATORY
WISCONSIN PSYCHIATRIC INSTITUTE
STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
WISCONSIN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, ARTS, AND LETTERS

FOREST PRODUCTS LABORATORY

C. P. WINSLOW, DIRECTOR

The Forest Products Laboratory is a scientific institution engaged in
research for the Forest Service, United States Department of Agriculture,
in cooperation with the University of Wisconsin. The final objective of the
research activities of this organization is to secure maximum economy and
efficiency in the production and utilization of forest products with a view to
prolonging the present timber supply and encouraging the practice of for-
estry through greater financial returns. The staff of the laboratory co-
operates with that of the University of Wisconsin in the courses of lectures
and research outlined below. The laboratory offers unusual facilities for
research in the field of forest products and possesses very complete scientific
and technical equipment for this purpose. In its investigations it approxi-
mates closely commercial conditions and cooperates extensively with the
various manufacturing establishments in testing out its research on a com-
mercial basis.

The technical investigations of the laboratory are as follows:

(1) Mechanical Properties of Wood. Investigations of strength, stiff-
ness, hardness, and other mechanical properties of commercial woods; effect
of treatments on strength; tests on fabricated materials and manufactured
articles; the development of grading rules for structural timbers.

(2) Seasoning of Wood. Determination of best methods of air drying
and kiln drying to eliminate losses; design and operation of dry kilns;
studies of commercial kilns; physical properties of woods.

(8) Shipping Containers. Study of wooden and fiber shipping con-
tainers, with special reference to design and specifications to develop con-
tainers which will deliver the contents to the consumer in a satisfactory
condition at a minimum total cost.

(4) Plywood, Glues, and Laminated Stock. Study of plywood manu-
facturing problems; strength and design of plywood; development. and im-
provement of glues; study of new uses for laminated construction in com-
mercial work.

(5) By-Products and Chemical Studies. Research on the methods of
production and utilization of by-products, such as alcohol, turpentine, rosin,
acetate, etc., obtained from various forms of wood and wood waste; and
general wood chemistry.

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