CHAPTER IX. 



INDUSTRIAL USES OF WOOD. 



THERE are few raw materials which possess such extensive 

 powers of adaptability and are so largely used for industrial 

 purposes as wood. A casual inspection of the interior of any 

 building is sufficient to convince one of this. 



Wood may be classified according to the manner in which it 

 is used, as timber and firewood. In timber the species and 

 the chemical and physical properties of the wood decide the 

 purpose for which it can be used ; as regards firewood, how- 

 ever, the wood is used only indirectly in order to utilise the 

 heat produced by burning it. The discussion of the proper- 

 ties of wood for the various industries in Chapter I. renders 

 further remarks on them unnecessary here. It is also 

 evident, that in the forestry of the twentieth century not fire- 

 wood, but timber, must be the chief object of production, for 

 timber unfit for any other purpose may be used for fuel, but 

 mere firewood cannot be used generally as timber. 



Subdivision I. Timber. 



SECTION I. THE DIFFERENT CLASSES OF CONVERTED TIMBER. 



1. General Account. 



The demands on timber are as varied as the kinds of timber 

 available. In considering merely the woods used in the con- 

 struction of buildings, furniture, implements, tools, and the 

 innumerable articles of convenience, art and comfort, it will 

 be perceived readily that nearly every object requires a special 

 kind of wood. If, therefore, a forest is to be worked inten- 

 sively, so as to yield the highest possible revenue, it should 

 produce wood which may be used to the greatest advantage, 

 or, in other words, which is most valuable. In order that the 

 produce of a forest may be of this nature, the forester should 



