82 TIMBER 
boot-tree manufacturers. The small native supply 
is generally sufficient, but it is occasionally augmented 
by small parcels of French wood, which are shipped in 
the form of planks. 
Sycamore.—This is a species of Maple which is 
found in most parts of Europe, being fairly common in 
Great Britain. The tree, which generally grows isolated, 
attains to a moderate size and is not so abundant as 
might be desired. The wood is generally of fine white 
colour, especially that obtained from young trees, that 
from those of older growth being often of a brown 
tinge in the middle. It has a fine, close, and even 
texture and, occasionally, a handsome mottled figure, 
this latter wood being much used by makers of violin 
and other musical instruments. It is an admirable 
wood for the turner, and is much used for rollers of 
calico printing and wringing machines, also for bobbins 
and many other similar purposes. The supply of sizable 
timber is never in excess of the demand, and good 
prices have to be paid for the wood. 
Willow.—From the osier and lower forms, many 
varieties of willow are abundant. Few, however, have 
any great commercial value, their growth being perhaps 
more useful for the retention of river banks than for their 
timber. The wood is somewhat similar to that of the 
Poplars, being soft, light in weight, and not splitting 
or splintering readily. It was formerly employed in 
the making of buffers of railway trucks, and is some- 
times used for cart bottoms, but is chiefly esteemed 
for the cutting of shoots from the pollarded trees for 
making crates, hurdles, baskets, and other similar work. 
For the manufacture of cricket bats it is renowned, one 
species, the Huntingdon willow, being preferred for 
this purpose and realising high prices when of good 
growth. 
