CHIEF USES OF TIMBER. 277 



than Pines or Firs ; but in Conifers durability increases with 

 resinousness. Seasoning increases it, and winter-felled timber 

 is more durable than summer-felled. The durability can be 

 greatly increased by artificial means. For use between wind 

 and water, Oak, Larch, and good Pine are best, while Alder, 

 Elm, and Beech last longest under water or as water-troughs. 



As regards general durability, our woods may be classified 

 thus : 



Most durable : Oak, Chestnut, Robinia, and resinous Larch 



and Pine. 



Durable : Ash, Elm, steamed Beech, and Conifers with dis- 

 tinct heartwood (Larch, Pine, Douglas Fir, Cypresses). 

 Least durable Silver Fir, Spruce ; Beech, Hornbeam, Maple, 

 Sycamore ; softwoods : Birch, Alder, Lime, Horse-Chest- 

 nut, Poplars, and Willows. 



The Chief Uses to which British timber is put are as 

 follows : 



I. Hardwoods 



Oak : ship-, house-, bridge-, and waggon -building, furniture, interior 

 decoration, railway sleepers, telegraph-post arms, cask-staves, estate 

 work, spokewood, and pitwood. British Oak is better in quality than 

 foreign Oak. Pedunculate Oak is harder, stronger, and more durable ; 

 but Sessile Oak grows straighter, and is softer and easier to work. 



Ash : agricultural implements, coach-building, furniture, oars, shafts, 

 walking-sticks, hurdles, pea- and beau-sticks, &c. 



Beech : chair-making, tool-handles, boot-lasts, mill-rollers. 



Elm : coach- and waggon-building, furniture, boat-keels, coffins. 



Sycamore : mill-rollers, furniture, bobbins, clog-soles, box-making, 

 pulley-blocks. 



Maple : used similarly, but not for mill-rollers. 



Hornbeam : cog-wheels, plane-boxes, tool-handles, and wherever great 

 toughness is required. 



Chestnut : furniture, parquetry, posts and rails for fencing, split- 

 fencing. 



II. Softwoods 



Birch : furniture, bobbins and turnery, barrel-staves and crates, clog- 

 soles, heads and handles of brooms, brooms for tempering steel-plates. 

 Birch and Alder were formerly much used for gunpowder charcoal. 



