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TIMBEE 
elm ; sometimes used instead of ash as trawl beams for 
fishing boats. The wood of the Wych Elm, or Scotch elm 
{U. montaiia), is somewhat lighter in colour than the 
common elm, and rather harder, clean and straight in 
grain, tough and flexible ; it is used for naves of wheels, 
and in boat-building. The tree attains a height of 80 to 
100 ft., with a large trunk. Elm was at one time, before 
iron became so common, often used for divisions in stables, 
horses having a dislike to biting it. 
Weight of common elm about 36 lbs. per cubic foot ; 
sometimes the weight of wych elm runs ujj to 43 lbs. per 
cubic foot. 
Common Laurel {Prumis lauro cerasus) is but rarely found 
of sufficient size to be used as timber, but, according to a 
recent note in the Timher Trades Journal, some forty tons 
were sold on an Irish estate some time ago, and several 
of the largest sticks were quite 12 inches in diameter at 
the butt end, and a quantity grown on reclaimed peat bog 
was sold for use in Belfast by Lord Charlmont. The 
timber, which is very heavy and durable, brought as much as 
70s. per ton. The tree originally came from Trebizond, and 
has been planted in Britain since the sixteenth century. 
Holly {Ilex aqui folium), the common holly, is seldom seen 
except in hedges, yet many specimens attain a height of 
40 feet with a diameter of 8 or 10 inches. It produces a 
wood of exceedingly fine grain, closer in texture than any 
English wood, and very hard, of white colour, sometimes 
almost as white as ivory ; requires great care in the treat- 
ment to preserve the whiteness of the wood, it does not 
readily absorb foreign matter; much used by turners and 
for parts of musical instruments, handles of tools and metal 
teapots, draught-boards, etc., and is often dyed black and 
