ISO TIMBER AND TIMBER TREES. [chap. 



straight growth, attains the height of 60 to 70 feet, with 

 a circumference of from 10 to 12 feet, and being of very 

 hardy habits, is often planted in the most exposed 

 positions, to lend beauty and picturesqueness to the 

 surrounding scenery. 



The wood is reddish-white or light brown in colour, 

 hard, heavy, close and even in texture, with a fine silky 

 grain. It cleaves easily, works up well, and is remark- 

 able for its minute vessels, and for the distinctness with 

 which the medullary rays can be traced. 



Beech is employed for chair- making, and it is 

 estimated that at least 12,000 to 15,000 loads are 

 annually required from the English forests for this 

 purpose. Engineers use it for piles and works under 

 water, and it is in great request by turners, tool-makers, 

 and others, who use it extensively in the domestic arts. 

 It makes excellent wedges. 



Formerly it was employed in ship-building, and 

 found to answer admirably for the keel and garboard 

 planking; it was also used for the ladders between 

 decks, shot cants, and for many minor services. Owing 

 to the important property the Beech has of not absorb- 

 ing water readily, it is much used on the Continent for 

 making shoes, and soles for shoes, these being considered 

 far superior to any made of other descriptions of wood. 

 It is also a most valuable article of fuel. 



Beech is durable if kept wholly submerged in water 

 or mud ; it is also durable if kept quite dry, but if left 

 exposed to the alternations of the weather,it soon becomes 

 dotted over with yellowish spots, and rapidly decays. 



No suitable pieces were available for experimental 

 purposes to try its transverse strength, but the tensile 

 was ascertained by experimenting on three pieces, the 

 average giving 4,853 lbs. per square inch; tried vertically 



