56 TIMBER 



rather a " caney " wood, and there is no difficulty in blowing 

 bubbles through it. 



Weight about 45 to 49 Ibs. per cubic foot. 



Common Acacia (Robinia pseudo-acacia) grows in Britain 

 and the Continent of Europe, though the acacia of com- 

 merce generally comes from America, and is known as the 

 American locust. The wood of acacia is greenish yellow 

 with reddish brown veins ; the structure is compact yet 

 porous, the annual rings very distinct. It is very tough, 

 durable wood, hard and heavy, but only to be had in small 

 sizes. Acacia gave favourable results in German mines, 

 but its weight and relative costliness militate against its 

 general employment. It flourishes well in poor soil, and 

 in fifteen to twenty years attains sufficient proportions for 

 pit props. 



Weight 42 to 48 Ibs. per cubic foot. 



Common Beech (Fagus sylvatica), Fig. 13, forms whole 

 forests in many parts of Europe, is very common in the 

 counties of Surrey, Hants, Bucks, and Sussex, and is one of 

 the stateliest of our English forest trees, attaining a height 

 of 100 ft. The timber is of reddish white or pale brown 

 colour, close, hard, and even in grain, and works up well, 

 twists and cracks easily, and does not readily take a good 

 polish. Being rather brittle it is not well adapted for the 

 purposes of the house joiner, or where strength and dura- 

 bility are required. It is very durable in wet situations, and 

 has been a good deal used for sluices, weirs, etc., but it is not 

 suitable for exposure to variations of atmosphere. Exten- 

 sively used by cabinet-makers and for chairs and bedroom 

 suites, also by turners for wooden bowls, ladles, butchers' 

 trays, wooden shovels, planes and other joiners' tools, sink 

 drainers, underwater parts of ships, and a good deal of 



