126 



TIMBER. 



the hardness or strength of the timber (mature and 

 miniature behig nearly equal in these when dried 

 before corruption injuj'es the latter), yet it material- 

 ly influences its nature or quality. We have taken 

 down Liabmnum trees in the round natm*al fonn 

 from the roofing of an old building, from which 

 nearly the whole yellow or sap-wood was eaten away 

 by insects, although they had not made the least im- 

 pression upon the bromi 



* Laburnum (Cytisus) is the most valuable timber this country 

 produces. It is equally deep in colour, and takes as fine a po- 

 lish as rose-wood, having also something slightly pellucid in the 

 polished surface. From its extreme hardness, it is much better 

 adapted for use than mahogany, not being indented or injured by 

 blows or rough treatment. We are acquainted with no other 

 timber of home produce so little liable to decay. The large-leaved 

 variety in rich warm soils acquires a diameter of a foot or a foot 

 and a-half, and grows rapidly till it fall into seed-bearing. Its 

 usual very stunted growth is partly owdng to less valuable faster 

 gi'owing trees overtopping it : Were it planted alone, and trained 

 to proper curve, it might be profitably reared for the upper tim- 

 bers (the part where decay commences) of small vessels : it has 

 the thinnest covering of sap wood of any of our timber trees. 

 The extreme beauty and richness of its clustered depending blos- 

 soms is a considerable injury to its growth, as it is often broken 

 and despoiled of the branches on this account. The small-leaved 

 Laburnum, though producing the most beautiful timber, is of 

 such puny growth as not to rank as a forest tree. There is a 

 peculiarity, at least seldom occurring in other trees, attending the 

 growth of the small-leaved variety : a branch frequently gives up 

 feeding the connected trunk and roots, drawing supply of nou- 



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