THE UTILISATION OF SMALL-WOOD FOR TURNERY, ETC. 147 
is therefore great and continuous, and very remunerative prices 
are obtainable for suitable wood. The only purpose to which 
short small pieces of oak can now be put is that of pit-props and 
pit-chocks—the former in any size down to 2 inches diameter and 
2 feet in length, and the latter sawn square to 2 inches and 
upwards, by 18 to 30 inches in length. 
The ash small-wood is produced still more extensively than 
the oak, but finds a greater variety of purposes in which it 
may be utilised. The turner looks on it with much favour as a 
turning wood. The serious collapse brought about in the bobbin 
manufacturing trade, through the causes already referred to, has 
curtailed the demand to such an extent as to reduce the price 
obtainable for turning wood by one half. When it can be delivered 
in those districts where bobbin-turning establishments still exist 
at the rate of 22s. to 24s. per ton, any quantity may be utilised. 
A greater restriction is, however, now placed on it in respect of 
size. In former years wood down to an inch in diameter was 
passable, but now 3 inches in diameter is as small a size as is 
deemed useful for bobbin work. A very important outlet 
for the consumption of small and waste ash is to be found in 
the agricultural implement trade. The quantity of small turned 
goods required in this industry is extensive, and these are very 
varied in their sizes and description, ranging from 1 inch 
diameter by 4 inches long to any size upwards. The items con- 
sist of handles for all kinds of implements, ornamental turned 
pieces, small shafts, etc., too numerous to detail, and all convert- 
ible from what may be termed small and waste wood, and ash is 
the wood invariably stipulated. In some of the Ayrshire estab- 
lishments, where the supply of this class of turned wood is made 
a leading feature, thousands of tons of ash are annually consumed 
in the agricultural implement department. The hay-rake is a tool 
that bears greater importance to this subject than its insignificance 
would lead one to suppose. The enormous number that are in 
constant use everywhere, and the continuous demand for them, 
constitute their manufacture an item of considerable account in 
the ash trade, and in it is worked up the smallest pieces of wood. 
Fortunately this branch, unlike the bobbin trade, has been able to 
maintain a successful competition against the American products. 
This may be explained in some degree by the inferiority of the 
quality of American-grown ash compared with our tough grown 
wood. The fancy and ornamental box and toy trade only to a 
