62 TIMBEE 



elm ; sometimes used instead of ash as trawl beams for 

 fishing boats. The wood of the Wych Elm, or Scotch elm 

 (U. montana), is somewhat lighter in colour than the 

 common elm, and rather harder, clean and straight in 

 grain, tough and flexible ; it is used for naves of wheels, 

 and in boat-building. The tree attains a height of 80 to 

 100 ft., with a large trunk. Elm was at one time, before 

 iron became so common, often used for divisions in stables, 

 horses having a dislike to biting it. 



Weight of common elm about 36 Ibs. per cubic foot ; 

 sometimes the weight of wych elm runs up to 43 Ibs. per 

 cubic foot. 



Common Laurel (Primus lauro cerasus) is but rarely found 

 of sufficient size to be used as timber, but, according to a 

 recent note in the Timber Trades Journal, some forty tons 

 were sold on an Irish estate some time ago, and several 

 of the largest sticks were quite 12 inches in diameter at 

 the butt end, and a quantity grown on reclaimed peat bog 

 was sold for use in Belfast by Lord Charlmont. The 

 timber, which is very heavy and durable, brought as much as 

 70s. per ton. The tree originally came from Trebizond, and 

 has been planted in Britain since the sixteenth century. 



Holly (Ilex aqui folium), the common holly, is seldom seen 

 except in hedges, yet many specimens attain a height of 

 40 feet with a diameter of 8 or 10 inches. It produces a 

 wood of exceedingly fine grain, closer in texture than any 

 English wood, and very hard, of white colour, sometimes 

 almost as white as ivory ; requires great care in the treat- 

 ment to preserve the whiteness of the wood, it does not 

 readily absorb foreign matter ; much used by turners and 

 for parts of musical instruments, handles of tools and metal 

 teapots, draught-boards, etc., and is often dyed black and 



