TIMBER AND TIMBER TREES. [chap. 
tain the amount of dressing to which they have been 
subjected, and whether or not the fibre has been cut or 
destroyed to a degree that would impair its trust¬ 
worthiness for mast purposes. If the spar is found 
to be straight and free from injurious knots, and exces¬ 
sive dressing, it may be accepted as likely to do good 
service, the strength and elasticity of this wood com¬ 
paring favourably with those of the Riga and Dantzic 
Firs. 
The trees that remain after the spars are withdrawn 
are hewn into a square form, and have a small amount of 
wane left upon each angle (Fig. 28). They are also 
FIG. 28a. 
FIG. 28^. 
dressed to follow the natural taper of the tree, which is 
rather more rapid and noticeable than in other Pines. 
No particular classification is made of this wood for the 
market, beyond the separation of the larger from the 
smaller or building scantlings, and the quotations of 
prices for the timber are generally for “large,” or for 
“ mixed,” and “building ” sizes. 
The Red Pine of Canada is dearer than the Fir 
timber of the North of Europe by at least the difference 
in the cost of freight, and, hence, it does not find quite 
so ready a sale, the quality of the article to be employed 
in ordinary building operations not being so much a 
consideration as the quantity to be obtained for money. 
