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TIMBEE 
one of the many whitewoods used by the Tunbridge ware 
manufacturer. Softer than holly, but preferable to it in 
some ways for the turner, as it can be had in much larger 
sizes ; it is also made into charcoal for gunpowder. 
Weight 35 to 37 lbs. per cubic foot. 
Alder [Alnns glutinosa) grows both in Europe and Asia, 
where it is found along the swamps and low banks of 
rivers as in Great Britain. It is only a small tree, 30 to 
60 ft. high ; the wood is white when first cut, but changes 
to a reddish colour, and then fades to a reddish yellow of 
different shades ; the roots and knots are beautifully veined, 
its annual rings are rather broad and wavy, and it is very 
durable in damp situations or when kept perfectly dry. 
It is a soft, light timber, uniform in texture, with fine, 
smooth grain, is easily worked, and shrinks a good deal. 
It is used for clogs and last-making, patterns, sides of 
carts, packing cases, and also for wooden bowls, turnery, 
and occasionally for furniture. German cigar boxes are 
usually made of alder wood. The roots and hearts are 
used by cabinet-makers, and much small stuff is grown for 
making baskets, staves for herring barrels, etc. It was 
formerly a good deal used for water-pipes, pumps, and sluices. 
The supply comes chiefly from the Baltic. Vitruvius, the 
early Eoman architect, says that the whole of the buildings 
of Kavenna on the Adriatic were built upon piles of alder. 
It is not of much value to the carpenter. 
G-rey or White Alder {A. incana) is a native of many parts 
of continental Europe, produces a white, fine-grained, com- 
pact wood, but soon rots in damp situations. 
Weight of alder 26 to 41 lbs. per cubic foot. 
Willows, of which there are about 160 species known, 
yield a soft, light brownish yellow coloured wood, easily 
