vi.] SELECTION OF TIMBER. 39 



The following remarks on the selection of timber, 

 &c., may be useful : 



In selecting timber, the surveyor's attention will 

 naturally be given to an examination of the butt or root 

 end, which should be close, solid, and sound ; and if 

 satisfied in this respect, the top should next be in- 

 spected, to see that it corresponds with the butt-end. 

 Afterwards he will glance over the exposed sides in 

 search of defects, carefully examining the knots, if any, 

 to see that they are solid. He will, of course, avoid 

 any piece that has either heart, cup, or star-shake, or 

 sponginess near the pith at the butt, discoloured wood 

 at the top, splits along the sides, rind-gall, worm holes, 

 or hollow or decayed knots. 



In dealing with spar-timber, he will select the 

 straightest pieces ; they should be free from all the 

 defects before mentioned, upsets, i.e., fibres crippled by 

 compression, large knots, and even those of moderate 

 size if they are numerous or situate ring-like round the 

 stick. Spar-timber should be straight-grained. 



As planks, deals, &c., depend for their usefulness 

 upon both quality and manufacture, the surveyor will 

 not only see that they are free from excess of sap, knots, 

 shakes, and shelliness upon their sides, but also that 

 they are evenly cut and fit for use of their thickness. 



Bright-looking timber is better in quality than dull, 

 and that which is smooth in the working better than the 

 rough or woolly-surfaced. 



The heart of trees having the most sap-wood, is 

 generally stronger and better in quality than the heart 

 of trees of the same species, that has little sap-wood. 



