LIFE-HISTORY OF A TREE 77 



fibre quite distinct from each other. As noted, one is where 

 they are irregularly interlaced and are not parallel with 

 each other, and the other is where the grain is practically 

 parallel with itself, but winds spirally around the axis of 

 the tree. There is no dictionary word for the former, but 

 woodworkers say it is " eaty," meaning that the fibres work 

 or eat their way into the wood as a worm eats its way into 

 fruit. The interlacing of the fibres is invariably found in 

 some species, as in the Sycamore and Tupelo. In others it 

 appears occasionally. It adds to the beauty of such as are 

 used for interior finish and furniture, as those portions of 

 the surface which show the ends of the fibres are, when 

 finished, darker in color than those showing the sides, the 

 color varying with the angle in which the fibres are pre- 

 sented. This irregularity does not materially lessen the 

 strength of the wood, and for some purposes cannot be 

 looked upon as a defect, while for others it enhances its 

 value, bnt makes it difficult to work. 



The other irregularity is designated as " winding," that 

 is, the fibres or grain " wind " around the stem or trunk ; 

 and when the lumber is cut parallel with the tree's axis 

 from such a tree, the grain necessarily runs across the 

 board or stick, which makes it not only hard to work but 

 weakens it, and the value of the wood for some purposes is 

 seriously affected, especially if the wind is great. A board 

 cut from such a tree may be so cross-grained as to be easily 

 broken, practically be split diagonally across, and a 

 stick used for vertical support is weaker because of the 

 tendency of the fibres to part and the stick to collapse. 

 Such timber is rejected by the competent engineer where 

 great compressile strength is required. The tendency of 

 such lumber to warp in seasoning is noted elsewhere. Nei- 

 ther of these irregularities is uniform in any species. In- 

 dividuals of the same species are differently affected. Some 

 trees of some species are practically free but few en- 

 tirely so and others are greatly affected. No one claims 

 that there is any law manifest in the case of irregular and 



