84 TIMBER 
Many osiers are cut down from beds in low-lying 
river districts; the supply of these, however, not being 
sufficient to fill the demand, imports from Holland 
in large quantities take place 
Horse Chestnut.—This is a tree producing timber of 
no commercial value. It grows to fine dimensions, 
with dense foliage, and is notable for its handsome 
appearance, the avenues of these trees in Bushey 
Park, which form such an attraction when in bloom in 
the spring, being an example of their natural beauty. 
The wood is white in colour, soft, close and even in 
the grain, but twists and warps badly, and is altogether 
deficient in durable qualities. 
Sweet or Spanish Chestnut.—This is found in abund- 
ance in Southern Europe, but is thinly scattered 
throughout England. It attains to very large 
dimensions, and is a stately and beautiful object when 
growing. The wood, however, is not in any great use. 
It is brown in colour, moderately heavy and hard, and 
has a straight, even and porous grain. It has a decided 
oak-like figure when cut on the medullary rays, and is 
sometimes used as a substitute for that wood. Very 
durable when submerged in water, it is consequently 
used for sluices, flood-gates, and similar work, It will 
not, however, stand in alternate wet and dry situations. 
Olive Wood.—A tree that is well known in Mediter- 
ranean regions, and which grows to a medium size. 
It produces timber, from its contorted and twisted 
trunk, which is of no great use except for the making 
of fancy-turned articles and small pieces of cabinet 
ware. The wood obtained is of yellowish-brown 
colour, close-grained, and hard in texture. It has, 
usually, a fine stripy figure in its twisted growth, 
and its handsome appearance renders it fit for the 
above-named purpose. 
