338 
THE EXTERNAL TIMBER TRADE OF Tae 
UNITED KINGDOM. 
The imports of wood and timber of all kinds into the 
United Kingdom have during recent years exhibited a 
considerable extension, and for the past five years the 
average annual value has amounted to no less than 
£22,668,000. This sum includes furniture woods, such as 
mahogaly, walnut, etc. (ash, beech, birch, elm, oak, and 
wainscot, it may be noted, are not classified as furniture 
woods), as well as joiners’ and cabinet work, which were 
valued at 42,634,000, in which amount 62,600 tons of 
mahogany accounted for £558,300; 152,300 tons of other 
furniture woods and veneers for £942,400; and house 
frames, fittings, joiners’ and cabinet work for 41,133,600. 
Exclusive of these items, which are of a more or less special 
character, the value of the imports of hewn and sawn timber 
and staves appears to be steadily increasing and to have 
risen by about 45,000,000 during the past 20 years; thus 
the average for 1879-83 was 4£14,962,000 ; for 1884-88, 
413,485,000 ; for 1889-93, 416,439,000 ; for 1894-98, 
%18,922,000; and 1895-9, £20,034,000. 
The quantities and values of hewn and sawn timber and 
staves imported in 1899, distinguishing the exporting 
countries, are shown in the table on the next page. 
It will be seen that in 1899 the imports of fir or pine 
alone amounted in value to about £ 19,000,000, representing 
8,804,600 loads, or about 440 million cubic feet. The largest 
quantity is received from Sweden, the imports from which 
source amounted to 2,322,600 loads, valued at £5,009,000. 
Russia came next with 2,141,800 loads, valued at 
44,792,000; and then Canada with 1,767,500 loads, valued at 
£4,373,000; the imports from these three countries accounting 
{or more than three-fourths of the total imports of fir. 
