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CHAPTER Vt 



OF TH:e WOOD. 



When" the bark is removed, we come to 

 the substance of the wood, which makes the 

 principal bulk of the trunk or branch of a 

 tree or shrub. When cut across, it is found 

 to consist of numerous concentric layers, 

 very distinct in the Fir, and other European 

 trees in generaL Each of these circular 

 layers is externally most hard and solid. 

 They differ however among themselves in 

 this respect, as well as in their breadth on 

 the whole. It often happens that all the 

 layers' are broadest towards one side of the 

 tree, so that their common centre is thrown 

 very much out of the actual centre of the 

 trunk. 



The wood owes its strength and tenacity 

 to innumerable woody fibres, and consists 



