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THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
Hornbeam (Carpinus Betulus) is rather similar to Alder, but
the wood is much harder and heavier, and has a whitish colour,
whereas Alder is a warm brown. For the manufacture of wooden
cog-wheels the wood has few equals. Sycamore (Acer Pseudo-
platanus) produces a hard timber of good quality and value, and
of a rather white colour. The quarter-sawn wood has a pleasing
if somewhat small figure. The timber has a very even structure
and is often used for dairy utensils, because, even when sub-
jected to frequent scrubbing, it wears evenly and does not leave
irregular surfaces in which dirt can lodge. The fact that it
wears so well makes it useful for rollers, and its value for this
purpose is enhanced because it stands alternate wetting and
drying better than many woods. A good deal of the wood is
stained a grey colour, and in this condition is used for decorative
work under the name of Harewood.
Other trees yielding hard, heavy woods of an even texture
are Holly (Ilex Aquifolium), Elder (Sambucus nigra), Box (Buxus
sempervirens) and Spindle Tree (Euonymus europaeus). Holly is
a valuable wood largely used for inlay work and turnery, apart
from its use as a substitute for ebony. Elder is used for turnery,
but is of little economic value, while Box is also a first class
turnery wood, and is also used for the manufacture of mathe-
matical instruments. It is the finest wood for making engraving
blocks. According to Howard the British grown wood is of good
quality, and was formerly in great demand. Much of the box-
wood of commerce is obtained from South-eastern Europe. The
wood of Spindle tree is of little importance economically,
but was formerly used for making spindles and also for butchers'
skewers : hence the name Skewer wood, by which it is sometimes
known.
Although not so hard as the four preceding timbers the wood
of Walnut (Juglans regia) is of even texture, and is one of the
most popular timbers for furniture and cabinet making. Old,
gnarled trees and those with burrs yield some of the best orna-
mental timber. It is also the best wood for gunstocks ; it is
not brittle and does not split, it keeps its shape when once
seasoned, and its weight is such as to give the gun or rifle a good
balance : these, among other properties, make it almost ideal
for this purpose.
Among the softer woods with an even texture is Lime (Tilia