Owing to its very moderate price as compared with other suitable species, European beech has made considerable headway in the United Kingdom during the past few years, and particularly in the automobile industry has it largely replaced other woods for bodybuilding work. It is, however, perhaps for the manufacture of chairs and the less expensive furniture that beech has made the most progress, where it is usually stained to the fashionable colors of the

moment.

Other uses for beech in this market are for bobbins, heels of ladies' shoes, clog soles, brushes, and small woodenware.

ELM

Canada supplies most of the elm imported by the United Kingdom. It is of two varieties-the hard, or "rock," and soft, or "gray," elm. Rock elm comes in the form of hewn timber and round logs with the bark on; an average specification of the latter will run from 20 to 40 feet long, 14 inches and up in diameter at the small end, averaging 18 inches. It is exceedingly tough and is used mainly for dock and wharf construction in places which come in contact with vessels, such as the edges of wharfs and landing stages. Ferry and excursion vessels usually have a belt of elm to act as a fender, as it will wear smooth and not fray. Elm is of particular value for use in places that are exposed to moisture, as it does not rot easily. It also enters largely into the construction of ships' lifeboats.

Gray elm is imported generally as lumber 1 by 12 inches and wider and is used almost exclusively for coffins.

Elm is one of the most common native timbers and is dealt with under the section "Native lumber industry."

PHILIPPINE HARDWOODS

With the exception of the lauans and tanguile, which have been covered under mahogany, the only other Philippine hardwood that has gained a market in the United Kingdom is apitong. The demand for this species is steadily developing, its close texture and great strength combined with its moderate price making it desirable where these qualities are required. Its principal use is for the underframing of railway freight cars, the long lengths in which it can be obtained, combined with its other qualities, making it very desirable for this purpose. Small quantities are also used for construction work and also for flooring, being imported in strips and manufactured in local factories.

SPANISH CEDAR

There is only a limited demand for Spanish cedar in the United Kingdom, its uses being restricted to very few purposes. No official records of the amount imported are available; but according to figures compiled by brokers interested in its sale, the import during 1926 amounted to 250,000 feet board measure into London, and 94,000 feet into Liverpool, the two principal ports of entry. Spanish cedar is generally included with shipments of mahogany logs and is usually sold at public auction along with them, although sales are occasionally made by private contract.

British Honduras and Nicaragua are the principal sources of supply, with small quantities from Tabasco (Mexico), Costa Rica, and Cuba. Timber from British Honduras, Tabasco, and Costa Rica is usually square hewn, this being preferred; a small quantity of round logs are also received from these countries. Nicaraguan is usually imported in round logs, while Cuban cedar is almost always square hewn. There are rarely any imports of lumber.

All these have a characteristic pleasant odor, and are of a mild texture, easy to work and free from resin. The Honduras and Nicaraguan stock furnishes the larger sizes, the others, particularly the Cuban, generally being of small dimensions.

The following is the range of sizes and lengths received in an average shipment of Spanish cedar from the countries mentioned: Honduras and Tabasco-12 to 28 feet long, 20 to 40 inches square, round logs same length, 24 to 48 inches diameter; Nicaraguan-12 to 28 feet long, 24 to 48 inches diameter; Cuban-10 to 18 feet long, 10 to 24 inches square.

During June, 1927, the approximate value per foot board measure, ex broker's yard, was as follows: Honduran, 8d. to 1s.; Nicaraguan, 8d. to 10d; Tabasco, 8d. to 10d.; Cuban, 8d. to 10d.

Sale measure, in the case of hewn timber, is the extreme contents of the piece after deducting any allowance for defects, and round logs are measured according to Liverpool string or "Hoppus" system, depending upon the city in which the stock is being sold.

The principal use of Spanish cedar is for racing shells, rowboats, punts, and other pleasure river craft, and for cigar boxes. A very small quantity is also used for high-class furniture.

The trade, however, has declined in recent years, the cigar-box trade, which formerly used the bulk of the imports, being greatly reduced and now of very small proportions.

BORNEO CEDAR

Small parcels of Borneo cedar are occasionally received in the United Kingdom on order in the form of hewn timber, round logs, sawn squares, and rough lumber, the specifications running about as follows: Timber, 18 to 36 feet long, 24 to 36 inches square; logs, same lengths, 30 to 40 inches diameter; sawn squares, in lengths of 18 feet and up, 3 by 3, 4 by 4, 5 by 5, and 6 by 6 inches, etc.; lumber, 3 inches thick and up, in widths of 8 inches and up, 18 to 26 feet long.

Borneo cedar is quite unlike Spanish cedar; it is light red in color and possesses considerable strength. Its principal uses are for the construction of railway cars and, to a smaller extent, in the furniture trade as a substitute for mahogany.

PENCIL CEDAR

Over 95 per cent of the cedar used for the manufacture of pencils in the United Kingdom is imported from the United States and is either aromatic red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) or incense cedar (Libocedrus decurrens), the former predominating. Practically all of it is imported in the form of slats in dimensions of 185 by 55 by 5 millimeters (74 by 24 by 16 inches) and proportionately narrower widths. Shipments of red cedar slats from the eastern seaboard of

the United States are usually packed in cases, each containing the equivalent for 100 gross of pencils, while incense cedar slats from the Pacific coast are packed in various kinds and sizes of containers, bags, cartons, and cases all being used.

A small quantity of pencil-cedar slats are also received from Kenya, East Africa, but difficulties are being met with in regard to manufacture and drying in that country, so that up to the present time the quantity exported has been comparatively small. Kenya cedar, however, according to a leading pencil manufacturer, is a very good substitute for the American varieties, and these difficulties will doubtless be overcome as the industry develops and an increasing proportion of the British pencil wood will be obtained from this

source.

Closet lining.-Efforts have been made to introduce aromatic red cedar closet lining into the United Kingdom but, although moths are extremely prevalent, little success has been met with so far, the public preferring to use one of the many preparations obtainable at little cost at any drug store. Another, and perhaps the principal, reason for lack of success, however, is probably because built-in closets are not usual in British homes, wardrobes being generally used and included in every set of bedroom furniture, so that compared with the United States the field is a comparatively small one.

GREENHEART

The United Kingdom gets its supplies of greenheart from British Guiana, most shipments being made from Georgetown.

It is a hard, dense wood, having a peculiar yellow-green color, and is imported entirely in square hewn timber-a usual specification being 12 by 12 inches and up, in lengths 20 feet and longer, averaging 50 to 60 feet. The wood is considered poisonous, cases of blood poisoning having been caused through splinters entering the flesh of those working it.

Greenheart is used for dock and wharf piling and decking and dock gates, because it contains an oil which enables it to resist attacks of the teredo. Since the war, however, its use has been largely discontinued in many parts of the country, having been replaced by concrete and steel.

Liverpool is the principal market and during 1926 imports to that district amounted to 115,000 cubic feet, while consumption was only 61,000 cubic feet. During the same year the London imports amounted to 3,900 cubic feet, while the consumption was only 2,550 cubic feet.

AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND HARDWOODS

Australia.-Jarrah and Western Australian karri, or blue gum, are the principal woods imported into the United Kingdom from Australia. During 1925, according to official statistics, imports of unmanufactured wood from Australia which, with the exception of a very small quantity of fancy woods used for panel work, consisted almost entirely of jarrah and karri, were as follows: Round and hewn hardwood, 3,800 cubic feet, valued at £1,080; sawn hardwood, 1,129,217 cubic feet, valued at £274,572; and ties, 1,238 loads, valued at £13,937.

Jarrah is an exceedingly dense wood weighing about 65 pounds to the cubic foot when dry. It is very durable in water, or where exposed to constant dampness, and is strongly resistant to fire. Karri has similar qualities to jarrah but is slightly heavier. Both jarrah and karri are used for similar purposes, the principal one being for railroad car construction where they are being used to an increasing extent and competing strongly with American northern white oak.

Karri is also used for telegraph pole arms, the principal sizes used being 212 by 21⁄2 inches and 3 by 211⁄2 inches, 3 feet 6 inches, 4 feet, and 6 feet 6 inches long.

Jarrah is sometimes used combined with oak in wood block floors, its dark, reddish-brown color making a pleasing contrast with the lighter wood. Formerly this species was used for dock piling, but since the export of unmanufactured timber has been prohibited by the Australian Government long lengths of hewn timber for piling have not been available. For purposes such as decking and underframing of piers or jetties where long lengths are not necessary, however, it is still used to some extent. On account of their durability karri and jarrah at one time were considerably used for street paving, but of recent years they have practically been discontinued, being replaced by the less expensive treated block of north European pine. For details regarding ties see the section under that heading.

New Zealand.-Kauri pine (Dammara australis) is the best-known New Zealand wood sold in the United Kingdom, but with its gradual disappearance imports have dwindled to such very small proportions that it has become almost a curiosity. It has a fine, medium-hard texture and is generally imported in heavy clear planks of wide widths which are used principally for panelwork in passenger vessels and railroad cars, also for vats.

Ilimo or New Zealand white cedar is occasionally imported in round logs, the sizes of which run from 10 to 16 feet long, 24 to 40 inches in diameter. During June, 1927, a small parcel of these was offered by auction in London and sold for 8s. per cubic foot ex yard.

During the past few years efforts have been made to popularize the use of Tasmania oak and other hardwoods but they are still in the experimental stage and of little importance in the British hardwood

market.

OTHER HARDWOODS

Obeche or African whitewood.-Imports of this species into the United Kingdom are increasing although the total is still comparatively small. The advancing value of okoumé is furthering the use of obeche as a substitute. Obeche is shipped from the west coast of Africa in the form of square hewn timber, which weighs about 36 to 38 pounds to the cubic foot. It runs large in size, an average shipment recently received being 20 to 55 inches deep in the middle of the piece, with an average of over 30 inches, and in length from 10 to 20 feet. The timber is imported clear of knots, is mild in texture and easy to work, but has a woolly nature and for that reason will not take a polish. The principal defects are ring shakes and "punky' hearts, the full extent of which does not become apparent until the timber is opened up. It is a comparatively cheap wood, recent sales having been made at 3d. per foot board measure, c. i. f. London. On account of its nature it is unsuitable for veneer, its principal use

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so far having been as a base on which veneers of fancy hardwoods are applied. The logs are cut into lumber, 12, 34, and 1 inch thick and are piled for about four months for seasoning before use.

Although the name "whitewood" is also used in the British lumber trade to indicate American poplar, there is little similarity between it

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and this African species and in no circumstances could it be used as a substitute.

Dogwood and persimmon. Considerable quantities of these woods are used for the manufacture of shuttles for the textile mills of Lancashire and Yorkshire, also for heads of golf sticks. However, during recent years the business has passed almost entirely into the hands of American firms who make a specialty of cutting the rough blocks, and imports of logs have practically ceased.