172 



contrary ; of course, every part is demon- 

 strated to have been fed and increased 

 exactly alike; and hence we have the 

 sort of form and substance, most of all 

 calculated to benefit.* 



* Notwithstanding the stir most authors who write 

 upon Timber make, about growing bends for Ship- 

 Timber, we believe little is hazarded by saying, that 

 if plenty of long, clean, straight, free-grown trees 

 could be got, there w^ould be no want for crooked 

 purposes. For as to knee timber, much of it must be 

 produced under any system of management ; and as 

 to ribs, and every other article requiring a moderate 

 curve, they certainly may be made not only stronger, 

 but every vi^ay better, from straight wood than crook- 

 ed ; and provided that sort of wood was not so very 

 scarce, they would also be made much cheaper in two 

 respects ; the first is matter of labour ; they might 

 usually be sawn at once, so as to require very little 

 hewing; and certainly under such a process, much 

 weight of wood might likewise be saved. The refuse 

 of a ship-carpenter's yard shews the immense waste 

 occasioned by cutting irregular bends to the desired 

 curves. Boiling, and a screw apparatus, to form the 

 bends, would at once make the ^^ straight crooked^'' 

 just in the way required; while the strength of the 

 wood would be retained, instead of being cut across. 



