



138 


The Vegetation r Book UL. 























































compleat Hiftory of the Mechanical Uses of Vegetables would very 
much conduce. I hall for the prefent give fome Lxftances. 
2.§. AS: First, fome Woods are foft, as Deal, and sallow. Yet from 
different Caufes. Deal, from the great Porofity of the Wood it felf, 
or the large Pores amongft the Sap-Vefels. But Sallow, from the great 
number of Aer-Veffels fpread all over it. And therefore, though they 
are both foft, yet will not ferve for the fame purpofes; Szllow being 
well wrought upon, ‘which way foever you cut it: but Deal, efpeci- 
ally the white Deal, if it be cut crofs, it tears, and will never polifh 
or work finooth. : 
3. §. Again, in sallow, by the equal {preading of the Aer-Ve(fels, 
the. Softzefs is equal or alike in all Parts. For which caufe it maketh 
an excellent Coal for Painters Scribets. Becaufe it doth not only make 
alight Stroak, but every where certaiz 5 and fo doth not difturb the 
even Moztiou of the Hand. For the fame caufe, shoomakers alfo make 
ufe of it for their Carving-boards. Becaufe being every where equally 
foft, it turns not the edge of their Kives, Which Deal would pre- 
fently do 5 becaufe though very foft in fome places, yet in others ‘its 
hard that is to fay, on the inner Verge of every annual Ring of Wood, 
where the old sap-Vefels grow much more compatt and clofe together. 
4. §. AGAIN, fome Woods are oft, but not fast; others are 
both, as Linn: its Softnefs, depending on the numeroufnels and equal 
fpreading of the Aer-Veffels = its Fafizefs, on the clofenefs of the true 
Wood, and the fhortnefs, and fmallnefs of the Ivfertions. For which 
caufe, it is of excellent ufe for many purpofess and particularly, for 
fwall Sculptures fach as may fometimes be feen for the Frames of 
Looking-Glaffes, or of {maller Pictures in Water-Colours. 
5. § SOME Woods, again, are faft, and hard, as Elm. Its 
harduefs. depending upon the clofenefs of the Wood. Its fuftnefs, 
Partly, wpon the fame caufe; and partly, on the fmalnefs of the Ixfer= 
tions 5 as alfo on the fewnefs of the Aer-Feffels in proportion with the 
Woods and on the thwart and crofs Pofition of many of them. Hence it 
is, that Elm, of all others, isthe moft Crofs-grain’d Timber ; that is, 
cleaveth fo unevenly, to and fro, according to the crofs Pofitioz of the 
faid Vefels. 
6. §. Hence alfo it cleaveth the moft Difficultl, Even then, 
when it is without any Kvots. For which reafon it is always ufed, 
as beft for the Hub of a great Wheel. As alfo for Water-Pipes,and for 
Pumps. Not becaufe it is the moft durable Wood; but becaufe it 
will not fplit or crack, either in the working, or afterwards. For 
the very fame reafon, it is ufed for Coffins; that is, becaufe, it will 
not /plit in working: not becaufe it will endure longeft under ground ; 
for Pales are always made of Oak. So alfo the Ladles and Soles of a 
Mill-wheel are always made of El; as alfo the Keel ofa Boat, fe. left 
they fhould /plt: but the other Parts are made of Oak. 
7. §. It may here alfobe noted, That the Plavks commonly called 
Greaning-Boards, \ately expofed, as a kind of Prodigy, to the view 
and hearing of many People, were of Elw. The Acr-Veffels of this 
Wood, being, though not more numerous, yet more ample, than in 
any other T#mber, So that upon the application of the Red-hor-Iron, 
as was ufual, and thereby the Raréfucfion of the Aer and Watery Parts 
in the Tiber 5 every Veffel became, as it were a little Wind-Pipe for 
their 

