PROPERTIES OF WOOD 355 
being tough and elastic. It has remarkable resistance to 
crushing, twisting, and pulling apart. A piece of yellow 
pine one inch wide and thick and a foot long bears a load of 
720 pounds without breaking, when supported at the ends. 
It requires a weight of 17,300 pounds to pull it apart, and 
a load of 7400 pounds to crush.it. It is beautiful and 
it takes a high finish. The beauty of wood depends 
Figure 329. —Young Plantation 16 Years after Planting. 
much on its grain, the closeness of which and the hard¬ 
ness of the wood determining its suitability for particular 
purposes. For instance, where wood-cuts are to be made, the 
grain must be very small, and the wood very hard. Holly 
and box are best for this. In the case of wood used for fork 
and shovel handles, the qualities desired are toughness and 
smoothness. These are found in ash and hickory, and so 
