PROPERTIES AND USES OF TIMBER. 389 



well. It is deemed improper for building, but is 

 much used in machinery and coach-making ; and, as 

 it lasts well under water, and resists friction, it is 

 in request for keels of ships. It makes the best 

 naves for wheels of any wood grown in Scotland, 

 and is generally in great demand for that purpose. 

 The cohesion of the grain is sufficiently strong to 

 permit, without splitting, the spokes of the wheel 

 being hard driven into it, — a very trying operation, 

 when it is considered that the naves are in general 

 only a foot in diameter, and must be also bored in 

 the centre. Neither is it apt to split from exposure 

 to the sun, as ash is. Elm, grown in Scotland, is 

 said to be of a much better quality than when 

 grown in the more fertile parts of England. But 

 this must not be understood of the different species 

 cultivated in the two countries, as what is generally 

 called the English or small-leaved elm {U, cainpes- 

 tris), is accounted better wood than the Scotch or 

 large-leaved elm {U. montcma.) 



BEECH. 



Beech is close-grained and altogether of a re- 

 markably close texture. When exposed to alternate 

 dryness and moisture, it soon decays ; but, when 



