EUROPEAN TIMBER 



57 



straight-grained wood is used for pianos, etc. If cut on 

 the quarter the wood often gives a very pretty figure, as the 

 medullary rays are broad, well defined, and numerous. 



FIG. 13. Beech (Fay us sytratica). 



Beechwood is also well adapted for a good deal of wheel- 

 wrights', cartwrights', and coachbuilders' work, and great 

 quantities are used for broomheads in the Black Forest 

 districts. In France it is much used for the making of 

 sabots, being preferred to any other wood for this purpose, 



