CHAPTER III. 



THE CLASSIFICATION OF TIMBERS. 



The problem of how to arrange the various kinds 

 of timbers so that they may be easily recognised, has 

 occupied the attention of many people for a long time, 

 but it must be confessed that none of the proposed 

 methods has resulted in a satisfactory classification, 

 and it may be doubted whether all the difficulties are 

 likely to be surmounted : nevertheless much may be 

 done towards system, and the principles employed are 

 not only interesting in themselves, but are also worth 

 examination as showing how numerous facts about 

 timber may be collated, and compared and contrasted. 

 In any case, while allowing that it is as yet impossible 

 so to arrange a collection of pieces of timber that all 

 the kinds can be recognised at a glance, it must be 

 admitted that the attempt to do so at least aids one 

 in determining many kinds of wood by means of their 



