232 SYLVAN WINTER. 



by Loudon to be ' the hardest and the heaviest of 

 all the indigenous woods of Europe.' He adds : 

 ' It weighs, when dry, no less than seventy -two 

 pounds two ounces per cubic foot. It has a com- 

 pact fine grain, a reddish tinge, and takes a, very 

 high polish; but it must not be employed 

 until it is thoroughly seasoned, as otherwise 

 it is apt to twist and split. It is much 

 sought after in France by mill-wrights for making 

 cogs to wheels, rollers, cylinders, blocks and 

 pulleys, spindles and axles, and for all those 

 parts of machines which are subject to much 

 friction and require great strength and durability. 

 In France it is preferred to all other kinds of 

 wood for making the screws to wine-presses. 



Yery close in texture, hard, and heavy is the 

 wood of the Whitebeam {Pyrus aria). It is 

 yellow or yellowish-white in colour, and will take a 

 high polish. Handles to various articles are made 

 from it, and it can easily be stained to imitate 

 other woods when desired. It used to be, and 

 still is to a considerable extent, employed for 

 cogs to wheels of machinery. 



Of the Willow {8aUx) the uses are pretty well 



