26 TIMBER 
of which from the various countries, but principally 
from Sweden, shows an ever increasing volume. The 
thinnihgs of the woods are also exported and used for 
scaffold poles, pit-props and other purposes. 
Larch.—This is another species of the coniferous 
family, widely distributed in Northe n Europe and also 
freely grown in Great Britain. A moderate amount of 
timber of this species is imported thither, principally 
from Russian ports, from whence the finest qualities — 
are shipped, further supplies arriving from the Baltic. 
Being grown in most districts of Great Britain the 
timber is wel known. It is of a very resinous nature 
and one of the most durable of the fir or pine family, 
the better qualities even holding their own in com- 
petition with oak, where used in contact with the earth. 
The wood is of reddish-brown colour, clean and free 
from knots, but more difficult to work than red deal. 
Owing to its tough and durable qualities it is used for 
floors, stairs and other purposes where wear and tear 
is heavy, for boat-building, posts and rails, rustic work, 
small scaffold poles, and largely for pit-prop purposes. 
Many other varieties of coniferous timbers that are 
grown in European countries might be mentioned, 
but they hold a relatively minor position in comparison 
with those given. One variety, however, may be alluded 
to, as a large amount of the wood of this species is 
imported into Great Britain in the shape of pit-props. 
This is the Cluster Pine, of which large and scientifically 
cultivated forests exist in the Landes and Gironde 
districts of France. The wood is used to some extent 
in carpentry work but is not of very much account, 
the chief value of the trees being the use which is made 
of them by the extraction of resin, from which the tur- 
pentine of commerce is obtained. A fairly large 
industry is carried on in the above districts, and the 
