Wood utilization. Of particular interest is the section of utilization, which acts as the liaison between the laboratory and industry. One of this section's principal duties is to translate the results obtained by the laboratory into commercial terms. To further its work, members of this section spend considerable time visiting various consuming industries and discussing wood utilization. One of the main objects aimed at is to promote the greater use of native and Empire grown lumber in place of that imported from foreign countries and to reduce waste by securing a more efficient utilization of lumber and other forest products. The work of this section has developed very rapidly, inquiries covering such varied matters as uses, market values, grading, supplies, and costs of various species.

One of its lines of investigation has been that of securing an Empire-grown substitute for American hickory for railway shunting poles, and one railroad has placed an order for 25 tons as a sample, which will be tested under actual working conditions. Sufficient time, however, has not elapsed to ascertain whether or not the wood will stand up under tests to which it is being subjected.

Another line of investigation has been the possibilities for utilizing small oak timber, of which there is a large acreage available in this country.

In conjunction with tests being made by the section of timber mechanics to ascertain the suitability of native species for pit props the section of utilization is investigating the requirements and conditions of use, grading and marketing cost, and transportation charges in various mining districts.

NATIVE LUMBER INDUSTRY

The native, or "home grown," lumber industry, as it is called, represents but a very small part of the British wood trade. It is to a great extent a specialized business, being centered mostly in the smaller provincial towns, such as Shrewsbury, Hereford, Norwich, and Ipswich.

While during the war, when imports of lumber were practically prohibited except for military purposes, the native lumber industry

experienced a period of great prosperity at the cost of heavy depletion of supply, during the past few years it has suffered a severe depression.

Several factors, in addition to diminution of supply, are responsible for this, one being increased competition from continental Europe and the ease with which thoroughly seasoned stock can be obtained from foreign countries. The British climate prolongs the drying period for many months, so that considerable capital must be tied up in native stocks, whereas dry imported lumber can be sold immediately and

capital turned over many times during the course of a year.

TRADE ASSOCIATION

Dealers in home-grown timber have their own association, known as The Federated Home-Grown Timber Merchants' Association, which is affiliated with the Timber Trades Federation of the United Kingdom. The objects of this association are to assist its members

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in solving the difficulties that arise in connection with their business, such as loading charges, damage to roads, insurance, sawmilling regulations, wharfage charges, railroad rates, damage caused by removal of timber, conditions in contracts, factories legislation, licensing of tractors, income tax, and, in addition, to further the use of homegrown timber and to stabilize prices paid for standing timber.

SOURCE OF SUPPLIES

There are no large forests of standing timber in the United Kingdom, but it is well spread over the country, Norfolk, Herefordshire, and the southern counties, also some parts of Wales, being the most important. In addition, the Irish Free State and Northern Ireland ship logs to Great Britain. Although large areas have been planted by the Forestry Commission during the past few years, it will be some time before this timber reaches a cutting size. For the present, supplies are obtained direct from owners of large estates or by auctions held in the vicinity, the larger proportion being sold by the latter method. In addition, small quantities are purchased direct from local farmers.

When sold by auction, a catalogue is prepared showing the number of logs and actual cubical contents in each lot, not only the trunk but also the branches being included. Prospective purchasers then view the standing timber prior to the sale and try to check the contents of the trees marked. Auctioneers' measurements have to be accepted, and although they are largely based on estimates they are in the main accurate.

The price paid is for the trees as they stand, the felling, hauling, and all charges being paid by the buyer, as a rule, although occasionally estates sell their timber felled and trimmed."

Home-grown timber is described either as coppice, hedgerow, or park trees. Coppice trees are those that have grown up together in a small wood or coppice, usually on a large estate. It is from coppice trees that the best wood is obtained. Hedgerow trees are those that have grown in hedges without shelter and exposed to wind and weather. The wood from these trees is generally much harder and tougher than coppice-grown and frequently twisted and subject to many imperfections. Park trees are those which at some time or other have been planted for ornamental purposes, but which the owner has decided to sell. Many fine walnut and oak trees are obtained in this manner.

METHOD OF SAWING

When merchants cut the logs for storing purposes, they usually saw them through and through into various thicknesses, 2 inches and upward, while prime butts are cut into 1-inch boards. Should, however, an oak log show any signs of figure, it is cut on the quarter for paneling and sold when thoroughly seasoned. The usual period allowed for seasoning is one year to the inch.

The native timber is rangy and has many branches; the disposition of the top cuts and branches is a difficult problem, because all these are included in the sale contents and must be paid for. There is always a great accumulation of these at every sawmill cutting native

timber, and while as much as possible is sawn into scantlings, which practically bring only the cost of manufacture, the remainder is sold as firewood at a loss.

Some consumers do their own cutting and fill their requirements from the log cut through and through, while others have logs sawn to whatever sizes they want. Some merchants again specialize in

the manufacture of bends, rended and shaved (tennis-racket material), also squares which they sell ready made to the consuming industries.

PRINCIPAL SPECIES AND THEIR USES

The principal merchantable species of native timber and their uses are as follows:

Oak. The principal uses for oak are for railroad freight-car underframes, church framework, furniture, and paneling; high-class joinery such as doors, handrails, and window sills; coffin boards, fencing (riven), half timbering of houses; boat building for stem and stern posts, especially when in a natural bend for the bows of small boats; and squares for table and chair legs, spokes, naves, wheelbarrow handles, and ladder rungs.

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There is, however, a brown oak much sought after for wainscot paneling, and permanent advertisements are carried in the trade press by merchants desiring to purchase it. Most of this is shipped to the United States, where it is sold at high prices. The price paid depends entirely upon quality and color, which can not, however, be estimated until the tree is felled, and as they are always bought when standing there is a considerable risk entailed as it is not at all certain that the color will extend through the whole log. So valuable are these logs that buyers will travel anywhere in the British Isles to secure a single tree.

Chestnut. The Spanish variety is sold and used for the same purposes as oak where a less expensive wood is desired, except where strength is a factor,

as in railroad-car constructon. There is, however, a special market for cleft chestnut pales used for fencing, the demand for which has considerably developed as a result of the advertising efforts of those interested in its manufacture.

Ash. Native ash is exceptionally tough and for that reason is preferred to any of the imported varieties for motor-bus and chars-a-bancs construction, sports equipment (particularly frames of tennis rackets), longerons of airplanes, agricultural implements, handles, and wagon fellies.

In addition to the ash grown in Great Britain, there are considerable quantities of logs received from the Irish Free State and, to a smaller extent, from Northern Ireland.

Elm.-Both the wych or mountain (Ulmus montana) and common elm (U. campestris) are commercially used, the wych being much harder in texture than the latter variety. They are used largely in the manufacture of tin-plate boxes, coffin boards, wheelbarrows, table legs, chair frames and seats, hubs or naves of wheels, and for fenders and gates in dock construction.