USES OF WOOD. 217 



stamps, for block-pulleys, and for employments 

 where wood, though used in preference to metal, 

 nevertheless requires to possess almost the hard- 

 ness of metal, Lignum vitce is desiderated. 



Amenability to the knife causes the wood of 

 the Lime tree, of which the best known is the 

 Common Lime (Tilia europcea), to be much 

 esteemed by carvers and gilders ; for, soft in 

 character, though in quality close-grained, light, 

 and smooth, and in colour pale yellow or almost 

 white, it is a capital wood for cutting into any 

 desired form. Hence for toys, games, and all sorts 

 of manufactured things which require to be cut 

 into particular shapes, this wood is admirably 

 adapted. For the sounding-boards of pianos, for 

 boards for shoemakers and glovers for cutting 

 their work out upon, for making mouldings 

 and designs in wood, it is an excellent material. 

 Indeed, the Lime was called * the carvers' tree,' 

 and it is said that Grinling Gibbons preferred it 

 to any other wood for his carvings. 



The wonderful and beautiful Mahogany 

 demands some notice, though its uses are too 

 well known to need enumeration. The botanical 



