earlier articles, dating from the fifteenth century, are to be found in one of the London museums. Although through the changes of fashion it suffered a temporary eclipse, other woods replacing it, during recent years walnut has been increasing in favor with the British public.

For high-class store, bank, and office fittings it has gained a position second to no other species, and when several of the great London department stores built additions, or were extensively remodeled after the war, walnut, in the face of severe competition from other species, was chosen for the window panels and interior fixtures and fittings, which are the admiration of all who see them to-day. Many banks, private offices, and directors' rooms in London and the larger provincial cities

have also been fitted with walnut during the past few years, while for gunstocks and airplane propellers millions of feet were used during the Great War, no other species being found more suitable for these purposes. Naturally this increased demand has not come about of its own volition but has been largely influenced by the efforts of American manufacturers interested in the market by advertising in the press and distributing illustrated literature supporting their

FIG. 18.-Walnut paneling in chapel of Balliol College, Oxford

accredited British agents in bringing to the public attention the superior qualities and natural beauty of this wood. American manufacturers are not the only ones that have benefited by these efforts, but the sales of other varieties of walnut have increased by the growing popularity of this species as a finishing and furniture wood in Great Britain.

SOURCES OF SUPPLY

The principal source of Great Britain's walnut needs is the United States, followed to a lesser extent by France. Small quantities are also received from West Africa. Formerly Italian and Black Sea (Circassian) walnut was imported, but these have practically ceased, the Italian imports being all imported in the form of veneer, while the Circassian is seldom used except for the manufacture of the 92015°-28-11

stocks of expensive sporting guns. No statistics being available, it is impossible to give the total imports of this species into the United Kingdom.

In addition to the foreign, there is also a small quantity of native timber, but the quantity is so small that it is of little consequence in the walnut market.

United States. Black walnut is imported from the United States, principally in the form of lumber. In addition, there are a few hewn and round logs brought into the west coast and Bristol Channel ports for conversion purposes, chiefly matched panels and veneers.

Only since 1922 have separate figures for this species been compiled in United States statistics, the exports of black walnut lumber from the United States to the United Kingdom during that period being as shown in the following statement:

As an export market for American black walnut lumber the United Kingdom is exceeded only by Canada, and during 1926 approximately 40 per cent of the total United States exports went to that country. It will be noted that exports show a sharp decline during 1926 as compared with the previous years. This must not be taken to mean that the American wood is losing favor but that the great arrears of work for those industries where walnut is principally used-i. e., telephone equipment and interior finish-had been caught up and the demand during 1926 was largely for current needs, as it will also be in the future.

Walnut lumber is imported from the United States in all grades and thicknesses, the first and second quality being used principally for panelwork and interior fittings. Other uses are telephone switchboards and equipment and electrical work generally, automobile steering wheels and dashboards, gunstocks, and airplane propellers. No. 1 and No. 2 common qualities are used principally for furniture, but during recent years the demand has fallen to very small proportions, brought about by two factors-one, the popularity of Jacobean or fumed oak; second, the question of price. Taking into consideration the first cost of the lumber itself and the extra expense of working it up as compared with oak, the finished article has been made too expensive for British users.

The United States is the only country shipping square-edged graded walnut lumber to the British market, a very desirable feature from the buyers' point of view, as the amount of waste is reduced to a minimum, whereas logs, whether solid or cut through and through, or unedged lumber imported from other countries entail considerable waste in conversion.

France.-French walnut is lighter in color than the United States variety, being a rich golden brown, the mineral streak also being less pronounced. It is also softer in texture, having a more open grain, and shipments received in the United Kingdom are often sappy and faulty. The export of uncut logs is prohibited by the French Government, while other descriptions are permitted to be exported under

license only. It is imported into the United Kingdom chiefly as logs sawn through and through, each piece being replaced in its original position in the log, which is then bound with metal strapping so that the entire log is taken by the buyer. These logs are cut to any thickness desired by the buyer, peeled and steamed before shipment. An ordinary specification will run 10 to 20 inches in diameter at the small end, 4 to 12 feet long. During June, 1927, it was worth from 6d. to 10d. per superficial foot, according to quality. Some wany lumber is also imported cut from short butts 4 to 9 feet long in planks 4, 5, and 6 inches thick and 1-inch lumber cut from top logs. This latter is a strong competitor of the American No. 1 common grade and during June, 1927, was worth about 7s. 6d. and up per cubic foot c. i. f.

During the downward trend of the franc it was possible to import first-class French walnut logs into the United Kingdom at about 8s. 6d. to 11s. 6d. per cubic foot c. i. f., according to size and quality, as against 15s. to 20s. c. i. f., for similar logs from the United States. Lumber was also influenced by the same conditions, and as a consequence imports materially increased during that period.

The stabilization of the franc, however, has had a reverse effect; and consequently French walnut has greatly increased in cost to the British buyer and cut logs 18 inches and up, 10 to 20 feet in length, by June, 1927, were selling at 10s. to 12s. 6d. per cubic foot c. i. f.

French walnut is largely used for panelwork, piano cases, furniture, office and bank fittings, and veneer, it being preferred to any other variety for that purpose, while the wany planks imported are largely used for table legs and chairs and 1-inch stock for furniture work. However, the total quantity of French walnut imported is comparatively small, and as the efforts of the Government of that country are to decrease rather than increase them, the United States will benefit most by any increase in demand for this species from Great Britain.

Africa. African walnut has come much to the fore during recent years. It is imported from the Benin and Lagos districts of British Nigeria and also from the French Congo in the form of square hewn or round logs, chiefly the former. Shipments originating in Nigeria are sold as "Benin" walnut in the United Kingdom. This wood runs large, 20 to 40 inches and up deep, in the middle of the piece, being an average shipment, while the lengths run 10 to 18 feet.

It is harder in texture than either the American or French variety, and only occasionally is a little mineral stain found in it, and never any figure. Its low price and the large sizes in which it can be obtained, however, are important factors in its favor, and it is gaining in popularity with the British furniture industry. During June, 1927, the market was about 42d. per foot board measure, c. i. f. London or Liverpool.

The principal ports of entry are London and Liverpool, where African walnut frequently appears in the catalogues of mahogany auctioneers and is sold along with that wood at the periodic sales, although many contracts are made on a c. i. f. basis.

Cape Lopez walnut shipped from the French Congo is not so much in favor with the British buyers as the Nigerian. Mineral stain is never found in it, but a little stripe figure is present in an occasional log. It has a soft and woolly nature which makes it hard to get a

smooth finish. It also has a tendency to warp and soaks up polish. Specifications are about the same as the Nigerian, but it is worth about 1d. per foot board measure (c. i. f.) less on account of its undesirable qualties.

England. Of the different varieties of walnut sold in Great Britain the home-grown is considered the richest in color and is much in demand for veneer, particularly those butts that show figure. It is, however, comparatively rare, only isolated trees being found scattered over the country, and it is doubtful if more than a few hundred reach the market during the year.

London is the principal market, it being the seat of the veneer industry, and in order that buyers can inspect them before purchasing the logs are shipped there, after which they are either cut into veneer or sawn into lumber at local sawmills, according to their suitability. When cut into veneer the slicing method is generally employed.

English walnut trees have a tendency to be stocky, with a number of limbs, so that only short lengths can be obtained as a rule. The usual lengths sold are 5 feet and up, or even shorter if a butt cut. In diameter the logs run from 14 to 30 inches, although the latter is exceptional. They are either bought from farmers who are willing to sacrifice an ornament on their property for its value in money, or where a country estate is being cleared for development the walnut is sold along with the other varieties of trees cut down.

The figured butts are used exclusively for sliced veneer, the others and top cuts of the logs being cut into lumber principally for tables and chairs. However, these figured butts are much in demand by America, and many of the selected ones are shipped to that country.

Occasionally trees are found having burls on them which furnish a particularly fine bird's-eye figured veneer, but they are now exceedingly rare and seldom found. When on the market burls are sold by weight and high prices are paid for them. During the early summer of 1927 walnut logs were selling for from 4s. to 8s. per cubic foot f. o. r. loading point, the price being determined by the size and figure.

MAPLE

Only hard or sugar maple finds a market in the United Kingdom, there being no demand for the soft variety. Hard maple is imported. from both the United States and Canada, and although a small quantity of West Virginia stock is used the bulk from the United States originates in Michigan and Wisconsin. The wood from these States, owing to climatic conditions, being of a very high quality in hardness, texture, and strength, is preferred, and it is frequently called "rock maple" in the British lumber trade because of its hardness.

The largest demand for maple is in the form of flooring, either in strips or blocks, full particulars of which are given in the section on "Planing-mill products."

Lumber is imported rough sawn in both prime and select qualities in specifications 1 to 3 inches thick by 6 inches and wider. Small quantities of prime strips, 1 and 14 by 4, 42, and 5 inches, 6 feet long and up, averaging 11 feet, are also imported for the manufacture of flooring in local factories.

Maple rails for piano actions are generally imported ready-made in pairs, the specification calling for I piece each 1 by 31⁄2 inches and

14 by 21⁄2 inches, 75 per cent to be 49 inches and 25 per cent 51 inches long. This stock must be absolutely clear of all defects and cut to exact size, otherwise it is unsuitable for the purpose for which it is intended and is rejected on arrival.

Its qualities of hardness, strength, closeness of grain, freedom from shrinkage, and ability to take a high polish makes hard maple particularly suitable where these properties are desired, but its higher cost as compared with other species, although not comparable with hard maple in the qualities named, restricts its use to purposes where they are essential and price a secondary consideration.

The uses of hard maple are extremely varied and while no particular industry consumes a large quantity the aggregate reaches a fair volume each year.

Until recent years, one of the most important outlets was the automobile industry for body framework, but with the development of the cheaper type of car on a mass-production scale it has been replaced by European beech, which is sold at a much lower price, so that the demand for hard maple from this industry has dropped to very small proportions.

The peculiar quality of resonance possessed in such a high degree by this species, in conjunction with its other properties of strength and freedom from resin, has made it particularly suitable for the manufacture of musical instruments, of which the most important is highclass pianos. Specially selected white (sapwood) winter-sawn, enddried lumber only is used, the greatest care being taken to see that it is thoroughly dry before cutting it into the parts for which it is intended.

Butchers' tables and chopping blocks are generally made out of hard maple, the latter being constructed from 2, 212, and 3 inch planks cut down to 12-inch lengths, edged and glued together. No other wood has been found to stand the hard treatment these blocks receive.

For laundry appliances hard maple is also extensively used, particularly for the rollers of mangles or wringing machines. These are imported cut to the required size in octagonal blocks out of quartersawn wood and turned after seasoning.

For textile machines having wooden parts, telephone equipment, mallets, warehouse and other small trucks, pulleys, brush backs, gymnasium apparatus, shoe-trees, billiard cues, and hubs of electric cable drums hard maple is extensively used.

A new use for hard maple has recently been developed in London, where it is being used for the treads of subway escalators. The heavy wear caused by the many hundreds and thousands of people who daily use these at busy stations necessitated the use of a material that would stand up under all conditions, and, after exhaustive experiments, American hard maple was chosen. Not only did it last longer than when composition was used, but it had the added advantages of not wearing smooth and becoming slippery when wet, a dangerous factor on a moving staircase. These floors are made by laying narrow strips on a subfloor at right angles to the riser in corrugated form, which not only prevents the accumulation of pools of water during wet weather but also enables worn patches to be speedily and economically repaired. These strips are fastened to the subfloor with brassheaded screws and are slightly beveled on each edge so that they will