PllOPERTIES AND USES OF TIMBER. 393 



ALDER — POPLAR — WILLOW. 



The wood of the Alder is of a reddish-colour ; it 

 is extremely soft and pliable to work. In some 

 parts of Scotland all sorts of wooden dishes are turned 

 from it. Much of it is used for herring-casks. It 

 bears moisture well, and may therefore be advan- 

 tageously used as piles for foundations, wooden pipes, 

 &c. 



The wood of the Black Poplar is reckoned rather 

 more durable than that of the other varieties, none 

 of which resist either the rot or insects for any con- 

 siderable period. They are, however, extremely 

 light, and tolerably free from any tendency to shrink 

 or warp. It is exceedingly well qualified for pack- 

 ing-boxes, and all purposes in which lightness and 

 cheapness are of more consequence than durability. 



The timber of the Willow, though soft, like that 

 of the poplar, is at the same time very tough, in pro- 

 portion to its gravity. It lasts long under water, 

 and is well qualified for pipes. Charcoal made of it 

 is said to be superior to every other kind for the ma- 

 nufacture of gunpowder. 



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