58 TIMBER 



as it is said to resist the damp, although, as in apparent 

 contradiction to this, beech will take in more creosote than 

 most woods, as much as 22 Ibs. per cubic foot having been 

 injected into beech paving blocks, for which this timber 

 has been a good deal used, and has generally given satis- 

 faction. Beech props in German mines gave superior 

 results to either oak, pine, or fir. It is much used for 

 sleepers on the continental railways, and makes good 

 charcoal. 



Irish beech, though not so economical in conversion as 

 English beech, stands unrivalled where hardness is a 

 requisite, and is much appreciated by piano manufacturers 

 and for the making of bobbins. 



The beech forests of Roumania are virgin soil ; they cover 

 about 3,000,000 acres, but are situate in wild, inaccessible 

 mountain ranges. At present the larger portion of our 

 supplies comes from Canada. 



European beech, sycamore, and birch are trees without 

 distinct heartwood. 



Weight about 44 Ibs. per cubic foot. 



Poplar, a genus of handsome trees with tall straight 

 stems, is found chiefly in the temperate and cold regions 

 of the Northern hemisphere. There are many varieties ; 

 the wood is soft, light, easily worked, yellowish or brownish 

 white in colour, and of uniform texture ; is not easily 

 splintered, and when dry and well seasoned is fairly durable. 

 Annual rings are very distinct but very fine. 



White Poplar (populus alba), found in Britain and the 

 southern parts of Europe, attains a height of 80 ft. The 

 wood, of a yellowish brown colour, is used by cabinet- 

 makers, turners, and toy-makers, but is liable to swell and 

 shrink. In restoring the foundation of the Campanile at 



