66 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
VII. Some Notes on the Home Timber-Trade in the East of Scotland. 
By Apam Sprers, Timber Merchant, Edinburgh. 
Like most other industries, the home timber-trade has not 
escaped the effects of the general depression which has 
now prevailed for nearly three years, and at present, more 
especially as regards the uses of hardwood timber, it may be 
said to be in a state of transition. 
Formerly ash of large size and good quality found a ready 
outlet in the coach-building trade for the construction of the 
framework of horse carriages, but owing to the advent of the 
motor-car the demand for timber for this purpose has fallen 
off very appreciably. In the construction of the motor-car ash, 
no doubt, finds a use, but this is limited to the lighter parts of 
the vehicle, the heavy framework being constructed of steel. 
The introduction of the rubber tyre, too, has had its effect in 
diminishing the demand for ash for carriage-building, for, owing 
to the lessened vibration to which the body of the carriage is 
now subjected as compared with what it was in the days when 
the iron-tyred wheel held sway, the vehicle has had its average 
life-time very appreciably prolonged, more especially in the 
case of hackney carriages in cities where the roadways are 
paved with stone. In fact, it may be safely stated that there 
is not more than one horse-carriage built to-day for every ten 
which were constructed, say, from ten to fifteen years ago. The 
extension of tramways has, no doubt, caused an increased 
demand for good clean ash for car-construction; but the home- 
grown article has been, to a large extent, supplanted for this 
and many other similar purposes by American ash,! which can 
be readily obtained in long clean scantlings. It must be said, 
however, that the quality and strength of the American ash 
which is imported is very inferior to that of ash of home 
growth, especially in sizes of 12 inches and more on the side, 
and if a good steady supply of the latter, suitable for this class 
of work, could be assured, American ash would be much less 
used than it is at present in this trade. 
In recent years coach-wheel makers have had to face a great 
deal of foreign competition, chiefly American. A large number 
of light wheels, made principally of hickory and oak, are now 
imported in a made-up state, and for every three wheel-wrights 
1 fyaxinus americana. 
