TIMBER 
CHAPTER I 
INTRODUCTION 
Few products of nature are of more manifold utility 
than timber and few have such powers of adapta- 
bility ; whether our outlook may be in the midst of 
cities, in the centre of agricultural districts or amid 
primitive civilization, we see on all sides convincing 
proof of its general use and necessity. It is with us 
in some form or another from the cradle all through life 
to the end of one’s existence, and the most casual 
observer cannot fail to recognise its ever present and near 
relation to all the numerous commodities of everyday 
life. 
It is therefore natural that a product with which we 
are all, to a more or less extent, so familiar should 
form an interesting subject to dilate upon, condensing 
information which has been gained by long and close 
connection with the material, in order to afford readers, 
who have perhaps had their interest centred in other 
channels, some knowledge of the many varieties of 
woods that exist, their varied qualities, their uses 
and the part they have played in the progress of the 
world. 
The greater part of the globe at one time or another 
was covered with timber forests. The conditions 
were favourable for reproduction and the result was 
vigorous regeneration by the creative power of the 
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