62 



to knots ; — they break the grain of the 

 wood or cause it to be what is called cross^ 

 grained^ in cases innumerable, where they 

 do not appear. 



By some persons, the treating of the 

 defects of foreign Fir timber will be con- 

 sidered as an unnecessary task ; for, no 

 doubt, so long as we want it, so long 

 must we take it " with all its imperfec- 

 tions on its head." We cannot improve 

 it ; and so far the case is hopeless ; but 

 this suggests some A'^ery important que- 

 ries, such as these : What are the real or 

 supposed defects of our own ? and. Can- , 

 not they be managed, so as to be a sub- 

 stitute for it ? — Probably, there can be 

 no impropriety in examining the matter 

 here, as it is presumed, their principal, 

 or only 7iatural defect, will prove to be 

 no other than that under consideration ; 

 namely, knottiness. The reasons for such 

 opinion follow of course. 



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