CHAPTER IV. 



SELECTION, SEASONING, STORAGE, AND DURABILITY 

 OF WOODS. 



Selection of wood. The wood-worker must, of course, 

 determine first what kind of wood is best suited for his purpose, 

 and then take steps to secure that the wood he obtains is a 

 sufficiently good sample of its kind. 



It cannot unfortunately be at all assumed that the botanical 

 determination of the species will prove a guarantee of the quality 

 of a timber. Experience shows that Pinus sylvdstris or Qudrcus 

 Eobur from different parts of Europe, or even from different 

 situations in one country or Teduna grdndis from different districts 

 of India may be a very different thing from the same species of 

 Pine, Oak, or Teak from elsewhere. Botanical identification, 

 therefore, though a most important preliminary, will not obviate 

 other tests. For many purposes, such as mere temporary hoard- 

 ings, crates, packing-boxes, or the carcases of low-priced furniture, 

 cheapness may be a consideration paramount to all others. 



Speaking generally, warm countries, sunny exposures, and dry, 

 elevated land produce heavier, harder, and stronger timber. 



It is important that timber should be selected for felling when 

 mature, when the quantity of sap-wood is small and the heart- 

 wood nearly uniform, hard, compact, and durable. After this 

 stage, wood may become brittle, inelastic, discoloured, and perish- 

 able, while before maturity, when the sap-wood is in excess, it 



