56 
TIMBEE 
rather a " caney " wood, and there is no difficulty in blowing 
bubbles through it. 
Weight about 45 to 49 lbs. per cubic foot. 
Common Acacia (Rohinia pseudo-acacia) grows in Britain 
and the Continent of Europe, though the acacia of com- 
merce generally comes from America, and is known as the 
American locust. The wood of acacia is greenish yellow 
with reddish brown veins ; the structure is compact yet 
porous, the annual rings very distinct. It is very tough, 
durable wood, hard and heavy, but only to be had in small 
sizes. Acacia gave favourable results in German mines, 
but its weight and relative costliness militate against its 
general employment. It flourishes well in poor soil, and 
in fifteen to twenty years attains sufficient proportions for 
pit props. 
Weight 42 to 48 lbs. per cubic foot. 
Common Beech {Fagus stjlvatica), Fig. 13, forms whole 
forests in many parts of Europe, is very common in the 
counties of Surrey, Hants, Bucks, and Sussex, and is one of 
the stateliest of our English forest trees, attaining a height 
of 100 ft. The timber is of reddish white or pale brown 
colour, close, hard, and even in grain, and works up well, 
twists and cracks easily, and does not readily take a good 
polish. Being rather brittle it is not well adapted for the 
purposes of the house joiner, or where strength and dura- 
bility are required. It is very durable in wet situations, and 
has been a good deal used for sluices, weirs, etc., but it is not 
suitable for exposure to variations of atmosphere. Exten- 
sively used by cabinet-makers and for chairs and bedroom 
suites, also by turners for wooden bowls, ladles, butchers' 
trays, wooden shovels, planes and other joiners' tools, sink 
drainers, underwater parts of ships, and a good deal of 
