THE MANUFACTURE OF HOME-GROWN TIMBER. 55 
Several systems are adopted for the procuring of the richest and 
fullest figure, but it is generally admitted that the best and most 
profitable is shown by the following diagram :— 
By this means every board is obtained as nearly across the grain 
as Ingenuity can devise. It will be seen, that in order to get 
boards of a certain size, a tree of double the size required is 
necessary, Thus a tree 2 feet across will produce a few boards 
about 12 inches broad, gradually diminishing from the centre 
outwards, and it is seldom therefore that a tree under 2 feet 
through is used for cabinet work, the favourite size being from 
30 inches upwards. Timber suitable for this purpose commands 
the highest price, varying from 6s. to 10s. per cubic foot. 
In a lot of oak it is invariably found that there are a certain 
number of trees which must be classed as secondary in point of 
size, shape, and quantity, and the disposal of these is often a source 
of some difficulty. The slightness of the crook may incapacitate 
their use for waggon timber, and at same time it is not fit for 
ship crooks. With this class of timber the wheelwright is a 
necessity ; cart timbers, being short and of a small size, are manu- 
factured from it, such as slots, trams, etc., while the smaller 
scantlings are converted into sawn wheel spokes, These spokes 
are, however, much inferior to the cleft spokes previously described, 
and command only a fraction of the price. This class of oak 
timber is consequently of the smallest value for manufacturing 
purposes. 
The only part of the oak tree now remaining unutilised is the top, 
limbs and branches, and these unfortunately have now been placed 
in the lowest category, the former uses to which they were applied 
by turners having become almost extinct. A wholesale conversion 
into pit-props is therefore commonly resorted to, the smaller sizes 
down to 2 inches being used whole, while the larger sizes are 
quartered or reduced to meet the demands of the numerous 
requirements in coal and iron mines. 
In some parts of the country a favourite item in agricultural 
districts is oak gate-posts. These are manufactured from the 
heavy wood of the class last referred to, and being from 5 to 8 
