EUROPEAN TIM BEE 
49 
worked, and tough. It is valuable as lining for carts, 
barrows, etc., as the wood dents instead of splitting when 
struck by heavy objects, for steamboat paddles, brake 
blocks on railways, and is much used for cricket bats, 
shoemakers' lasts, and in France for sabots, also for 
baskets and wicker work. Mr. W. J. Bean, of Kew 
Gardens, considers the Salix alba, or Huntingdon willow, 
the best for bat-making. It is found in Essex, Hertford, 
and Suffolk, but supplies of best " bat willow " have 
become scarce. 
Lime or Linden {Tilia Ettropea), a common European 
tree, giving a white, soft wood, fine and close in grain, 
sometimes of a reddish tinge, is used to a small extent in 
furniture-making ; it, as well as the willow, is used for 
cricket bats and malt shovels, and it makes good pianoforte 
sounding boards ; it is not suitable for exposed situations, 
but is fairly durable when kept protected and painted. A 
good deal used for turning and carving ; much of Grinling 
Gibbons' carving at Windsor, St. Paul's, and other places 
was done in lime. There are three kinds of lime included 
under the above name, the small-leaved lime {T. parvifolia), 
large-leaved lime (T. platiiphylla) , and the common lime 
(T. vulgaris) ; the latter is the most common. Some trees 
reach a height of 80 ft. and a diameter of 4 ft. 
Weight about 35 lbs. per cubic foot. 
Apple iPyrus malus) provides fairly hard, durable, fine- 
grained wood of reddish brown tint ; it is used largely for 
turning. It is one of the dark woods of Tunbridge ware, 
stands well when seasoned, is not so tough as pear. The 
timber of the wild or crab apple, which grows to a height 
of 20 to 30 ft., is best. 
Weight about 49 lbs. per cubic foot. 
T. E 
