220 MADEAS EXHIBITION. 



on cadjan leaves is less liable to be defaced, but the woods should 

 in addition to a label be cut or branded with a number. The 

 botanical specimens should be securely sewn up, or pasted in a 

 paper envelope, with a corresponding number. 



SIZE OF IKE SPECIMENS, ETC. 



For a complete collection, there should be several of each wood 

 from various localities. 1st, A horizontal section of the tree, with 

 the bark complete, and about 3 inches thick. 2c?, A plank about 

 3 inches thick, and about 3 feet long, cut from the log about 

 half way between the pith and heart, the bark, sapwood, &c, 

 being retained. 3d, Two or three bars, about 2 feet 6 inches 

 long, 2j inches square, cut from the sound wood. 4th, A turned 

 cylinder of hard or ornamental woods, 1 foot long and 3 inches 

 in diameter. The use of the above specimens is obvious ; the 1st 

 shows the character of the entire timber, having sufficient to 

 illustrate this ; the 2d shows the value of the wood for carpentry, 

 &c. ; the 3d enables trials to be made of the strength of the 

 wood, its power of supporting weight, its deflection, &c. ; the 4th 

 shows its ornamental nature and suitability for turnery. These 

 specimens should be planed smooth at each extremity, but neither 

 varnished nor polished. 



But the value of wood depends much on its age. The young 

 tree possesses strength and elasticity in the greater degree ; when 

 mature, i.e. when it would shortly cease to increase in diameter 

 as it increases in age, it acquires its maximum of stiffness and 

 durability; in its aged state, it will also best suit the purposes of 

 the cabinetmaker. The grain of the wood depends also greatly 

 on the nature of the soil, being generally straight and open in 

 a tree growing rapidly on a rich, and the reverse in a poor soil. 

 In some cases, specimens of the root of the same tree in dif- 

 ferent stages of growth would be very serviceable, as affording 

 wood of great resisting power for furniture ; thus the root of a 

 healthy oak is preferred for spokes of wheels, while veneers from 

 the root of an aged specimen often bear a high value for cabinet 

 purposes. The objects for which the wood seems adapted must 

 be a guide to the collector in the choice of these forms. The 

 jury need scarcely remark, that specimens in the above forms 



