TIMBERS. 



29 



siderable value as timber, is of none. Directions in 

 writing will scarcely suffice to teach a forester this 

 part of his business ; he must consider attentively the 

 knee figiu-es and bends we have furnished, fix them 

 in his memory, and use every eligible means to ob- 

 tain them. Knees, of all descriptions of oak timber 

 are in the greatest request. We have known them 

 purchased at 7s. per computed solid foot, which, from 

 the plan of measuring, is as much as 10s. per real 

 solid foot. The prevailing inattention to judicious 

 training will continue to occasion the supply of 

 knees to be short of the demand, and thence the 

 price high, provided some change does not take place 

 in the structure of vessels, or iron knees be adopted, 

 which are now sometimes used, or vessels, with the 

 exception of the deck and rigging, be formed of iron 

 altogether, which we have seen do very well in inland 

 navigation. 



As crooked round oak timber of the natural length 

 is extremely unmanageable, and its distant transport 

 very expensive, it is desirable that it be squared and 

 cut in lengths suited to its ultimate use, where 

 grown. This requires a thorough knowledge of the 

 necessary curves, to which the figs. p. 19, will afford 

 considerable assistance. However, the superintendent 

 j of any extensive fall of naval timber either should be 



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