DEFECTS IN TIMBER AND GENERAL NOTES 291 



Most of these defects only go a short distance into the 

 ends of logs, at any rate it is often found that by cutting 

 18 inches or 2 ft. off the end the defect is minimised if not 

 done away with, and although logs thus affected should be 

 subjected to careful inspection, these defects are not serious 

 where the timber has to be used in large bea us, but they 

 often cause a loss in converting it into small scantling. 



When selecting timber one should do so with a view to 

 its intended use ; timber required for a beam or joist carry- 

 ing a steady load and suitable for that purpose might not 

 be suitable for carrying, moving, or jarring loads ; timber 

 suitable for either of these purposes might not be at all 

 desirable for use in pile-driving, which, owing to the heavy 

 hammering it has to sustain, should be sound throughout, 

 whereas any that is not sound throughout can be cut up 

 into satisfactory material for joiners' work, as, in the 

 smaller sizes, the faults are eliminated with a certain 

 amount of waste. It is in logs that the defects above 

 referred to are specially noticeable, and it is comforting to 

 know that when used in large sizes the defects are often not 

 of much consequence. 



Variation of Colour in the same piece of timber, unless 

 natural, should be looked upon with suspicion, as it often 

 shows incipient decay. There is a good deal of difference in 

 the colour of the same species of wood which comes from 

 different districts, some of the northern pine being almost 

 yellow, whilst other is of a reddish hue ; sometimes the colour 

 is mixed, the red shading off into the yellow; there should be 

 no sharp division of colour. A reddish tinge on the heart- 

 wood of light coloured Baltic timber sometimes denotes 

 decay, but this is a matter in which experience must be the 

 guide. 



Knots are another objectionable feature in timber, but 

 one which cannot be avoided. Many are found in excellent 



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