British Timber and some of its Uses 241 



substituted for it, but for the walnut as well. For piano 

 sides it is largely used, as also for rafters in open-roof 

 churches, for furniture and cabinet work, ship fittings, sign- 

 boards, and post and rail fencing. 



Elm wood is extensively used for the boarding and 

 flooring of carts and wagons, in coffin making, for the 

 framework and foundations of bridges, for naves for wheels, 

 and for the keels of boats and ships. It makes strong 

 furniture, and is often substituted for ash in making agri- 

 cultural implements. 



Holly is used by mathematical instrument makers, for 

 fancy turnery and inlaid work. It is often sold as ebony 

 when " ebonized." 



Hornbeam timber for cogs in mill gearing is well known, 

 also in " bushing " for sawmill rollers, and for skittle pins. 



Horse Chestnut. The timber is largely used for packing 

 boxes, moulding patterns for castings, cutting boards, 

 manufacture of brushes, and occasionally for covering 

 temporary buildings. 



Larch. The wood of this tree is largely used for fencing, 

 boat building, permanent staging, and pit wood. 



Lime. The wood is white and very fine of grain, and 

 used for carved work, sounding boards for musical instru- 

 ments, wagon brakes, packing boxes, toys, domestic utensils, 

 and for shoemakers' and saddlers' cutting boards. Char- 

 coal for gunpowder is made from this wood. 



Maple is employed in the turning of bowls, for toys, and 

 " bird's-eye " maple for furniture. 



Oak has long been associated with our national defence 

 as the chief element in shipbuilding, but although iron and 

 steel have to a great extent taken its place, yet for barges 

 and small boats the timber is still largely used. Wagons 

 for railway mineral traffic are largely made of oak, while the 

 builder finds in it his best material for the strong frames of 

 domes, spires and roofs of public buildings. It is also used 

 for the bottoms of carts and wagons, cartwheel spokes, 

 fencing, furniture making, railway " spraggs," charcoal, etc. 



Poplar wood is woolly and tenacious, and for this reason 

 is used for the bottoms of stone carts and barrows. It is 



