6S 



subjects, entertained an opinion, that the 

 Timber was of an inferior quality; but 

 such as had worked upon old trees, have 

 as constantly admitted the advantage of 

 age, — while all agree, that their knots are 

 a very serious defect. 



If we contrast the circumstances un- 

 der which Foreio-n and British Fir Tim- 

 ber are usually brought forward, we 

 shall find many reasons for the general 

 prejudice in favour of the one, and 

 to the detriment of the other. The first 

 is uniformly brought from climates, that, 

 compared with ours, cannot be called 

 warm, and such as we call Timber, is 

 always of a good size and age, before 

 cut down ; indeed we never see the worst 

 part of it, say — that v,- hich grew near the 

 tops. Besides, in reducing it to Logs, 

 the greater part, or the whole of the sap 

 is cut away ; as both ends are brought 

 to one scantling ; and what we have in 

 Flank is necessarily still more reduced, to 



