USES OF WOOD. 197 



hardness is required ; for pipes sometimes, rulers, 

 measures, gauging instruments, wooden screws, 

 and many other and sundry uses too numerous to 

 mention, this beautiful wood is used. But its 

 most valuable and important use is that made of 

 it by the modern wood-engraver, whose beautiful 

 and wonderful art — the reproduction of the most 

 dehcate features of Nature, and of everything which 

 it is desired to give in the form of pictures — relies 

 upon the exquisite susceptibility of Box to the touch 

 of the graving tool, and upon its retentive hardness, 

 for its success. 



So seldom does the Broom (Gytisus scoparius) 

 produce wood of any size for purposes of utility in 

 the arts, that.it may be interesting to mention 

 that when it has produced ' timber,' it has been 

 employed for similar purposes to that of the 

 Laburnum. It has also been used for making 

 pins for pulleys, for which purpose it was formerly 

 said to be superior to any other wood. Certain, 

 Scotch snuff-boxes, manufactured many years 

 since by Mr. Steven, of Laurencekirk, were made 

 from Broom roots after the latter had been steeped 

 in water for a considerable time. 



