WOOD. 87 



ing deposited each year. The leaves of such plants 

 have their veins running in all directions, forming a 

 fine network. 



It is to this class of trees that we principally look 

 for our supply of timber for building and other pur- 

 poses, as they are far more abundant than the endo- 

 genous, and attain to a much greater size, while the 

 wood is more easily worked, and much more durable. 



The most useful woods in supplying our daily wants, 

 both as fuel and building-lumber, are Oak, Chestnut, 

 Pine, Hemlock, Elm, Ash, Hickory, Poplar, and 

 Maple. 



Those which are most useful as fancy-woods for 

 the -manufacture of Cabinet-ware, are Mahogany, 

 Walnut, Rose-wood, (obtained from a species of Mi- 

 mosa which grows in Brazil,) Tulip-wood, (to be had 

 only in small pieces not wider than five inches,) 

 Zebra-wood, (probably the production of a large tree, 

 and beautifully shaded with white, red, and black 

 stripes,) Satin-wood, (a fine-grained wood of a bril- 

 liant yellow color, brought from India,) Sandal-wood, 

 (resembling tulip-wood, and possessed of a very fine 

 odor,) Camphor-wood, (the product of the Camphor- 

 tree,) Ebony, Iron-wood, Canary-wood, and many 

 others of less importance. 



The wood of the Box-tree is also an article of con- 

 siderable importance in commerce ; it is remarkably 

 fine and close-grained, which makes it particularly 

 serviceable for the use of the engraver; and it is to 

 this tree that we owe the facility and cheapness with 

 which many books are illustrated. 



