COMPARATIVE VALUE OF TIMBER 



valuable for constructive purposes when it is 

 not subjected to wet and dry alternately. 



But even in this case we, some time back, 

 were asked to look at a ladder that for thirty- 

 seven years had been in use for thatching the 

 corn-stacks on a large farm. This, too, was 

 made of spruce, for which, owing to its light- 

 ness, the timber is peculiarly suitable. 



The main reason why home-grown timber 

 has not been more frequently in use amongst 

 architects and builders is because it can rarely 

 be got in a dry and seasoned condition and 

 fit for immediate use, nor in the sizes, quantity 

 and quality, and at the time required. On 

 the other hand, foreign wood has been sent 

 to this country in a matured and thoroughly 

 seasoned state, and can, on the shortest 

 notice, be procured in the different sizes and 

 scantlings required for any and every class of 

 constructive work, while it is clean to handle 

 and moderately cheap. Now, however, that 

 unprecedented quantities of our native woods 

 have been used for the most important pur- 

 poses in connection with the war, their par- 



187 



