FELLING TIMBER TREES. 71 



Beech [Fagus sylvatica). — Beech timber is not valued so rmich, 

 and is not so largely planted as it was a century ago. It is still 

 used for wringing and mangling machines, lasts, carpenters' planes, 

 and partially for bushes in machinery ; but lately, another market 

 has opened up for beech in a manufactured state ; it is now used 

 for mining purposes in blocks froin 20 inches to 3 feet long, 

 and from 4 to 8 inches square, to which is given the name 

 chocks. I have disposed of many thousand chocks during the 

 last few years, and have found them pay well. Beech thrives on 

 most dry soils, but not on stiff clay, even though tolerably dry. 

 Although a hardy tree growing on exposed places, it prefers a low 

 sheltered situation, where it may be felled at about seventy years 

 of age. 



Birch (Betula alba). — The birch is very graceful, but of 

 moderate size compared to many of our forest trees. Since the 

 introduction of Norwegian birch for barrel staves and other pur- 

 poses to which our birch was generally applied, it has been little 

 asked for, except for bobbins and turnery ; but well-grown trees 

 still fetch good prices. It is not particular as to soil or situation, 

 and when cut down springs readily from the stool. It may be 

 felled profitably every thirty years, and at present is in demand 

 for bobbinwood, chocks, and burnwood. 



Spanish Chestnut (Castanea vesca). — The sweet chestnut is a 

 timber tree of the third class, and never attains large dimensions 

 even in favourable situations. The wood is durable and useful for 

 many purposes ; and the tree from its rapid growth is well adapted 

 for planting among others which require longer time to mature, 

 from among which it can be thinned out at twenty to thirty years 

 of age. It is then fit for any purpose to which the timber is 

 applicable. It answers well for barrel heads, and I frequently 

 receive a good price for it. I have also found, on comparing the 

 price of an acre of larch with an acre of sweet chestnut, taking 

 larch to be mature at seventy years, and sweet chestnut at forty, 

 that the annual value yielded by the sweet chestnut exceeded that 

 yielded by the larch. In favourable situations this tree may be 

 felled when about thirty-five years old. 



Horse Chestnut {JEsculus hipjoocastanum). — This tree, like 

 the foregoing, is a rapid grower, but of little use for timber. The 

 wood is soft and not durable, and may be used like the willow and 

 poplar for railway brakes, agricultural implements, saddlers' cut- 

 ting-boards, patterns, etc. It can be recommended for lawns, 



