352 



TIMBER AND TIMBER TREES. 



[chap. 



although fairly grown. On this account the selected 

 spars nearly all require to be dressed to a straight form, 

 and simply taking off the knotty tops of the trees and 

 removing the bark is not sufficient to constitute the 

 hand-mast of this species of Pine. 



The surveyor and mast-maker will, therefore, find it 

 necessary to examine these spars very carefully to ascer- 

 tain the amount of dressing to which they have been 

 subjected, and whether or hot the fibre has been cut or 

 destroyed to a degree that would impair its trust- 



FIG. 28a. 



i'A 'TrhML^i lw-| I'U if 'iiUiiiliiiiii ^ " ' """^ 



FIG. 286. 



worthiness for mast purposes. If the spar is found 

 to be straight and free from injurious knots, and exces- 

 sive dressing, it may be accepted as likely to do good 

 service, the strength and elasticity of this wood com- 

 paring favourably with those of the Riga and Dantzic 

 Firs. 



The trees that remain after the spars are withdrawn 

 are hewn into a square form, and have a small amount 

 of wane left upon each angle (Fig. 28). They are also 

 dressed to follow the natural taper of the tree, which is 

 rather more rapid and noticeable than in other Pines. 



