ASS] ( 6 ) 



As they fall from the mill. Another term for " Unassorted " 

 (which see). This means all grades down to a certain line. 

 One may be to exclude wane in any part, i.e., all sawn " die 

 square " (which see) ; another also to admit wane to a 

 limited extent. See " Wane, or Scant, or Cant," both 

 excluding rot, taint, or dote. 



Ash. A well-known type of the temperate zone of the Northern 

 Hemisphere. In 'that of Britain (Fraxinus excelsior) the 

 wood ranks extremely high for lightness and elasticity, and 

 is in great demand for exceptional and general purposes, 

 especially since the introduction of flying machines. It is 

 the old "wood of war" that furnished the "shield" and 

 " spear." 



Ash Trees Leafing. The tradition is if the ash precedes the oak 

 in foliage, we may anticipate a cold summer and unproduc- 

 tive autumn. 



Ashlar. (1) Freestone roughly squared in the quarry. (2) 

 Hewn stones used in the facing of walls presenting a surface 

 varied according to the tooling they receive. Hence dressed 

 ashlar-facework may be plain or flat, grooved, chiselled, 

 axe-dressed or rusticated. 



Aspen (Populus tremula). A tree of the poplar family, whose 

 leaves tremble with the slightest impulse of the air. Aspen 

 wood is plentiful in Russia, where it is used in the manufac- 

 ture of 3-ply veneer, and is also imported into Sweden for 

 making matches. 



Aspen Leaf. A favourite subject for poets, arising out of the 

 long, thin stalk of the leaf metaphorically never quiet. 



"And tremble like a leaf of aspen green ;" 

 or, as Sir Walter Scott says 



"And variable as the shade 

 By the light quivering aspen made." 



Asphalte, or Asphaltum. A smooth, hard, brittle, black or 

 brown substance. Durable in the air. Used for road 

 paving or as a damp-proof material for walls, cellars, 

 pavements, roofs, etc. It is odourless except when heated. 



Assorted. All the merchantable pieces defined in their various 

 qualities. Known also as " Graded ' or ' Bracked." 

 Swedish sawn goods formerly were in three qualities 

 " Ists," " 2nds," and " 3rds." Later the " Ists " and " 2nds " 

 were merged into " mixed," and further numbers were 

 added, which read "mixed," " 3rds," " 4ths," and even 

 " 5ths." A few years back the classification was again re- 

 vised, and mixed are now styled " Ists " and the other quali- 



