CHAPTER V 



ACCIDENTS DURING GROWTH 



From various causes, unsuitable soil, unusual 

 or rapid climatic changes, etc., checks may take 

 place in the growth of standing timber, to its 

 detriment as a commercial commodity. Old age, 

 with its concomitant decay, which usually begins 

 at the centre of the tree, can hardly be termed 

 an accident during growth, yet it is an event 

 which cannot be left out of our reckoning. Let 

 us therefore pay some attention to decay. 



The condition of a wood may often be deter- 

 mined more or less accurately by its external 

 appearance. Wood of good quahty usually has 

 a bright healthy appearance which is foreign to 

 the duller inferior quahty wood. This rough 

 inspection test is difficult to reduce to words, 

 but the timber expert will reahze what we mean. 

 Decay in its incipient stages is most readily 

 determined by coloiir. Wherever a serious 

 wound, whether accidental or purposeful, has 

 occurred to the bark of a tree it is likely to lead 

 to decay. Air and moisture enter the wood 



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