CHAPTER IX 
THE EUROPEAN VARIETIES OF HARDWOOD TIMBER 
COMMONLY IN USE 
Walnut.—Three or four European varieties of this 
broad-leaf, or hardwood timber, are known in English 
and other markets, namely, that grown in England, 
and three more exported from France, Italy, and the 
Black Sea. 
The timber is produced from a tree which is said to 
be indigenous to Southern Europe, and was introduced 
into England at an unknown date, being formerly 
much more plentiful than at the present time. It is 
supposed to be deficient in the power to reproduce 
itself from seed in Northern latitudes and, probably, 
this is one cause for the decrease in the supply. At 
the present time it is to be seen growing much more 
freely in the Southern and Midland portions of the 
Kingdom than in the Northern. 
It attains to a lofty height, reaching, probably, 70 ft. 
or over, is of handsome growth with wide-spreading 
branches, and, in mature specimens, reaches a diameter 
at the butt of 36 in. or more. These large boles or 
butts are more esteemed than those of lesser growth, 
the wood gaining by age not only a closer texture but 
also more heart-wood with good colour and dark stripy 
markings. Such wood is usually found in the butt 
and principally at the base, even the rooty portions 
often containing fine figured pieces. This walnut 
was, formerly, largely used for gun-stocks, but at the 
present day, owing principally to its scarcity, is only 
used for high-class sporting rifles. When more plen- 
tiful, it was largely used by the cabinet trade, most 
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