THE CHARACTERS OF TIMBER 113 



covering imposes upon them by pushing off the old bark from time 

 to time and replacing it with new. 



From two points of view, therefore, the subject of the external 

 appearance of tree-trunks may be approached, from that which 

 merely seeks to make interesting observations, and that from which 

 the name and nature of the tree is to be discovered. As we shall 

 have again to mention the external appearance of trees, it will not 

 be necessary to say more here.^ 



THE CHARACTERS OF TIMBER 



There is that power of discrimination which comes from long 

 practice, and is due to a recognition of certain details of which we 

 are hardly conscious, and which many of us would 

 be at a loss to describe. For instance, we recognise 

 a friend, because we " know " him. In the same way 

 a timber merchant " knows " the many different 

 kinds of wood with which he deals. It is only 

 recently that an attempt has been made to so 

 describe timber, that anyone may determine a FIGURE in. Elder 



n f. n Stem, showing the 



section oi wood Irom words. wide annual rings 



In our nature-study observations, we should of wood and the 

 always endeavour to be clear as to the actual 

 points of difference and likeness between things in a series. 

 The power of appreciating details of this kind is gained in 

 systematic natural history, where the minute though often constant 



* In an address entitled " Trees as a Means of Nature-Study," given by Mr John Evans 

 at the Nature-Study Exhibition, 1902 (see the Official Report, page 167. Blackie & Son, 

 price 2s. 6d.), there is much of value, although the work is carried considerably beyond 

 Nature-Study proper. 



H 



