108 TIMBER 
logs, but sometimes in converted planks, and the 
second growth, as with the ash, is more appreciated 
by some consumers than the first. 
Walnut, Black or American.—The value of this fine 
wood was recognised as early as the seventeenth century, 
when large tracts of land were afforested with the trees. 
It has since then been recklessly exploited, and total 
extinction would be now well in sight but for slight 
schemes of re-planting which are taking place. The 
tree is of handsome growth, and attains to a height of 
100 to 150 ft., with a diameter in well-grown specimens 
of 4 ft. and over. The wood produced is of more or less 
dark brown colour, even and uniform in texture, and 
has exceedingly good working and polishing qualities. 
Formerly, the wood was shipped in moderately squared 
logs, but during the last thirty years a continuous 
development in the export of square-edged, converted 
planks and boards has taken place. It was at one time 
extremely favoured for the making of bedroom suites, 
dining-room and library furniture, the fashion having 
been retained for many years, but, with a marked 
deterioration in quality and continual rise in value, 
its place was taken for these purposes by mahogany, 
oak and other woods. Besides its use in the cabinet 
trade it was also employed by builders for shop and 
office fittings, and for many other purposes. 
The tree was also fairly abundant in certain parts of 
Canada, and regular supplies of an even better wood 
than the American at one time reached Great Britain, 
under the name of Quebec Walnut. It was superior 
in texture and colour, having a somewhat darker 
purplish tinge as compared with the American. It com- 
manded a higher price, but the supply was apparently 
not large, and very little has been seen during the last 
ten years or more. , 
