188 SYLVAN WINTER. 



and handle it in some form or another, does not of 

 itself explain much as to the nature and particular 

 purposes of particular kinds. The universally 

 generic expression ' wood,' or ' timber,' goes 

 a long way towards satisfaction ; but the dis- 

 crimination of the different kinds used for the 

 varying purposes of civilization is not a general 

 possession ; it is mostly the possession of experts. 

 Yet the subject is one, we think, of interest, and 

 in the immediately succeeding pages we shall en- 

 deavour to furnish some data which may, and we 

 trust will, prove entertaining and valuable to the 

 general reader. It is in this spirit that we 

 give the facts contained in this chapter, merely 

 premising that we write not for the learned 

 expert, but for the unlearned, and for those 

 anxious to be informed upon a subject, informa- 

 tion on which has been hitherto too widely scattered 

 through various works to be available for ready 

 use. To make the arrangement of the contents 

 of this chapter as convenient as possible, an 

 alphabetical arrangement will be followed. 



Much difference of opinion exists as to the 

 value of the wood of the Acacia (llobinia pseud- 



