256 
it realises a satisfactory price and enters into the manufacture of 
a wide range of articles. Even the smallest pieces of sound wood 
are put to some good use, whilst decaying wood and sawdust are 
utilised for the generation of steam. Amongst the many uses of 
beech wood that of the brush industry is very prominent and an 
idea of its importance may be gleaned from the large number of 
manufacturers represented each year at the British Industries 
Fair. Beech is not the only wood used by brush manufacturers 
but it is the principal wood utilised, for the blocks of such kinds 
of ware as scrubbing, boot, clothes, and nail brushes. For such 
work the blocks into which the bristles are secured must be made 
of wood that will withstand the boring of a large number of holes 
and the subsequent secure wiring of the bristles into position 
without the fracture of the slender divisions between the holes. 
At the same time the wood must be reasonable in price and easily 
obtainable. Beech combines the necessary properties in a high 
degree, in fact no other wood has yet been found that answers 
the purpose so well. An idea of the strain put upon the blocks 
may be gathered from the fact that 187 holes are required in a 
boot brush block 8} in. by 23 in. by } in., and 140 holes in a 
scrubbing brush block 1} in. by 23 in. by in. These holes have 
then to be filled with ‘bristles and ‘the bristles tightly wired. 
Beech is, however, a used to finish off the commonest brushes. 
For the better grades of scrubbing brushes a very thin veneer of 
beech, dyed black, is placed over the wires and the brush is 
' finished off with a back of horse chestnut. The back must be 
of a white wood that finishes with a very smooth surface and 
does not splinter. Lime, sycamore and horse chestnut are all used 
but the latter is by far ‘the best wood for the purpose. For boot 
brushes the back may be sycamore, cherry, sweet chestnut, birch 
or various other kinds, and for clothes brushes all these ‘woods 
are used with others such as mahogany, ebony, and other exotic 
woods that finish well and take a good polish—_W. D. 
a SR i a aes ah 
Printed under the authority of His MaJesry’s STATIONERY 
By Eyre and rig swoode, I.td., East Harding Street, mon 
* Pees ters to the e King’s most Excellent Majesty. 
