USES OF WOOD. 215 



purposes, when these qualities are desirable, such 

 as for making light shafts of carriages, the wood 

 is in request. Another species of Lancewood 

 is produced by the Hassagay tree (Curtisia 

 faginea). This tree grows to a larger size than 

 the one just mentioned, and yields very valuable 

 timber, which is applied to purposes very similar 

 to those of Guatteria virgata. 



The uses of the Larch (Larix europcea) are 

 almost innumerable. Its wood has been said to be 

 the most useful of any of the species of the useful 

 genus Abies which includes the Firs. In colour 

 it is of a reddish-brown, and for all purposes of 

 domestic architecture it is invaluable for floors, 

 for windows, for beams and joists and doors; 

 and for all sorts of open uses in which there is 

 exposure to the weather, its enduring qualities 

 are pre-eminently serviceable. Absence of knots 

 in its timber is one very valuable quality which 

 takes it out of the category of common deals. 

 Its good colour, toughness and hardness ; its 

 susceptibility of a high polish, its damp-resisting 

 character, and its almost fire-resisting quality give 

 it recommendation of the first importance. For 



