THE EUROPEAN VARIETIES OF HARDWOOD 85 
Box Wood.—This is obtained from a tree of shrubby 
growth which is indigenous to a portion of Europe and 
parts of Asia. It is a slow growing, low, and bush-like 
tree that is occasionally to be met with in England, 
the timber produced being small and of comparatively 
little value: it may be frequently seen in an extremely 
low form, in many cottage and other gardens, where it 
is grown and trimmed for borders. In parts of Turkey 
and Persia, however, it grows more freely and attains 
a larger size, and it is from these localities, shipped 
from ports in the Black Sea, that we obtain the most 
appreciated qualities. 
The wood is exported in small billets or sticks, gener- 
ally about 2 to 3 ft. in length, and from about 1} in. to 
6 in. in diameter, most of the parcels being chiefly 
shipped to Liverpool, from whence it is distributed. 
Light yellow in colour, it is extremely hard and 
close-grained, having a dry weight of something like 
533 Ibs. to the cubic foot. It works and turns well, 
and has a silky lustre when finished from the tool. 
Formerly, the chief demand for this timber emanated 
from the wood-engraving trade, the material having 
been used for the cutting of blocks for illustrative 
purposes since the fifteenth century. No other wood 
could be found with the same close, fine texture, so 
well adapted for the purpose, and high prices were for 
many years obtained. Of late years, however, the 
camera and other processes of obtaining illustra- 
tions have superseded this older method, and the con- 
sumption for this purpose has declined. The wood 
has still many miscellaneous uses, being largely em- 
ployed in the manufacture of rules of all kinds, for 
turnery work of all descriptions, for the making of tools 
and tool handles, inlaying and other work. 
A further variety which is, however, not held in 
