Carpentry, construction, planks, beams, masts, heavy timber. Weight of Seasoned Wood in Pounds per Cubic Foot. 34 (Lazlett[81]) (varies with locality). Modulus of Elasticity. 1,680,000 (Lazlett) (varies with locality). 1,800,000 (Thurston). Modulus of Rupture. 7000 (Thurston) (varies with locality). Remarks. Principal soft wood of Europe. Widely distributed; local peculiarities once thought to denote different species. Fields tributary to Dantzic and Rigi afford best wood. Wood "equal to Dantzic Fir" sometimes specified. [p146] FOOTNOTE [Footnote 81: Table CLXVII, p. 418.] KAURI PINE. (_Dammara_.) This New Zealand tree affords one of the best substitutes for northern pine. Although not true pine, it belongs to the same family as the pine and other conifers. The light, strong, durable, elastic wood is obtainable in large-sized pieces suitable for masts. The species is universally noted for its resin, which possesses the quality of uniting more perfectly than others with linseed oil.[82] Kauri gum is thus one of the most valuable constituents of good varnish.[83] The best gum occurs as a fossil, and is collected by digging over areas known to be fruitful but from which trees have long since disappeared. The pieces, varying in size from small pebbles to lumps as large as eggs, are scraped and otherwise cleansed by natives in the fields.[84] [p147] FOOTNOTES [Footnote 82: It unites with linseed oil at lower temperatures than other gums of its kind.] [Footnote 83: Fossil Kauri gum has sold for one thousand to fifteen hundred dollars per ton.] [Footnote 84: One mass of two hundred and twenty pounds has been reported (R. Ingham Clark, F.R.G.S.: "Notes on Fossil Resins," published by C. Letts & Co., London).] Correspondence Professor Alvah H. Sabin, New York City; Messrs. Pratt & Lambert, New York City. [Illustration: PLATE 28. KAURI PINE (_Dammara australis_). _From R. Ingham Clark, by courtesy of Messrs. Pratt & Lambert._ Fragments of Gum one-quarter natural size. "Fossil gum" at right and centre.] KAURI PINE. _Dammara australis._ Nomenclature. Kauri Pine (local and general). Cowdie Pine (New Zealand and many localities). Locality. New Zealand. Features of Tree. Ninety to one hundred feet in height, three to four feet in diameter, occasional specimens much larger. Small leaves resembling those of box. A tall handsome tree. Color, Appearance, or Grain of Wood. Heartwood straw-colored, fine, close, straight grain. Structural Qualities of Wood. Moderately hard, light, elastic, strong, seasons well, works readily, receives high polish. Representative Uses of Wood. Carpentry, masts. Weight of Seasoned Wood in Pounds per Cubic Foot. 33 (Lazlett[85]) (varies with locality). Modulus of Elasticity. 1,810,000 (Lazlett). Modulus of Rupture. Remarks. The species is widely known by reason of its gum. [p148] FOOTNOTE [Footnote 85: Table CLXXI, p. 426.]