DEFECTS IN TIMBER AND GENERAL NOTES 291 
Most of these defects only go a short distance into the 
ends of logs, at any rate it is often found that by cutting 
18 inches or 2 ft. off the end the defect is minimised if not 
done away with, and although logs thus affected should be 
subjected to careful inspection, these defects are not serious 
where the timber has to be used in large bea ns, but they 
often cause a loss in converting it into small scantling. 
When selecting timber one should do so with a view to 
its intended use ; timber required for a beam or joist carry- 
ing a steady load and suitable for that purpose might not. 
be suitable for carrying, moving, or jarring loads ; timber 
suitable for either of these purposes might not be at all 
desirable for use in pile-driving, which, owing to the heavy 
hammering it has to sustain, should be sound throughout, 
whereas any that is not sound throughout can be cut up 
into satisfactory material for joiners' work, as, in the 
smaller sizes, the faults are eliminated with a certain 
amount of waste. It is in logs that the defects above 
referred to are specially noticeable, and it is comforting to 
know that when used in large sizes the defects are often not 
of much consequence. 
Variation of Colour in the same piece of timber, unless 
natural, should be looked uj^on with suspicion, as it often 
shows incipient decay. There is a good deal of difference in 
the colour of the same species of wood which comes from 
different districts, some of the northern pine being almost 
yellow, whilst other is of a reddish hue ; sometimes the colour 
is mixed, the red shading off into the yellow; there should be 
no sharp division of colour. A reddish tinge on the heart- 
wood of light coloured Baltic timber sometimes denotes 
decay, but this is a matter in which experience must be the 
guide. 
Knots are another objectionable feature in timber, but 
one which cannot be avoided. Many are found in excellent 
u 2 
