Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustrations. See 45032-h.htm or 45032-h.zip: (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/45032/45032-h/45032-h.htm) or (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/45032/45032-h.zip) Images of the original pages are available through Internet Archive/American Libraries. See https://archive.org/details/principalspecies00snowrich Transcriber's note: Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). Text that was in bold face or small capitals was converted to all upper case. The original page numbers are enclosed in square brackets (example: [p023]) to facilitate the use of the index. [Illustration: Live Oak (_Quercus virginiana_), Louisiana.] THE PRINCIPAL SPECIES OF WOOD: THEIR CHARACTERISTIC PROPERTIES. by CHARLES HENRY SNOW, C.E., Sc.D., Dean of the School of Applied Science, New York University; Member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, etc. FIRST EDITION. First Thousand. New York: John Wiley & Sons. London: Chapman & Hall, Limited. 1903. Copyright, 1903, By Charles Henry Snow. Robert Drummond, Printer, New York. PREFACE. The following is a brief untechnical presentation of general features characterizing economically important species of wood. It is the result of notes originally brought together from many already existing sources and later augmented, and verified so far as possible for the present use, by personal observation. The work of preparation has not been as simple as the result would indicate, and although great care has been taken to check each fact, errors do no doubt exist, although it is not believed that there are important ones. Engineers while writing upon woods have, save exceptionally, emphasized strength beyond most other properties. Other works for expert foresters or botanists are of necessity too special, voluminous, fragmental, or technical for the casual student. Some popular books on trees, as distinct from woods, are available. The present form is distinct from these and is intended for those who are not foresters or botanists, but who use woods or desire knowledge of their distinguishing properties. Allusions to trees, historical and other references, aside from those directly regarding woods, are made for completeness and in order to mark, distinguish, or separate the species.