_s._ _d._ _s._ _d._ Ash and sycamore —— 18 0 per ton. Beech 5 0 to 10 0 ” Larch 12 0 ” 20 0 ” Scotch pine, spruce and silver fir —— 8 0 ” Spruce 8 0 ” 10 0 ” Oak —— 15 0 ” Elm and beech —— 10 0 ” Hardwoods of pitwood size —— 6 0 ” Larch poles and pitwood (Wales) 9 0 ” 10 0 ” That the heavy importation of foreign woods has had a prejudicial influence on the value of home-grown timbers is realized by all those who are engaged in the trade. The depreciation in price has, however, been so gradual that it is difficult to realize this unless by comparing the prices of to-day with those of, say, a hundred years ago. Several of these comparisons clearly indicate that oak, at least, has become much reduced in value, less so ash and elm, and the following list of prices obtained in 1807 for timber on two estates in Hants will serve to show that for trees of equal size the price to-day is far behind that of a century ago. _s._ _d._ Oak averaging 9 cubic feet 4 0 per foot. Ash ” 7 ” 2 3 ” Elm ” 22 ” 1 9 ” Beech ” 14 ” 1 6 ” Sycamore ” 19 ” 1 3 ” Fir ” 11 ” 1 3 ” On another estate trees of about the same size brought: oak, 4_s._; ash, 1_s._ 6_d._; elm, etc., 1_s._; beech, 1_s._; and firs, 1_s._ per cubic foot. When the small size of the individual trees is taken into account, and even admitting that only the best portion of each trunk was measured, the prices, as compared with those of to-day, are exceedingly high, particularly for oak, ash and fir. CHAPTER XXVI BRITISH TIMBER AND SOME OF ITS USES The following are a few of the many uses to which home-grown timber is applied:— =Alder= is used extensively for clog soles, barrel staves, mill bobbins, and occasionally in furniture making. It makes excellent charcoal for cooking and heating, as well as that used in the manufacture of gunpowder. The wood of the =Apple=, =Cherry= and =Pear tree=, when of large size, is used for cabinet purposes, and stained in imitation of other woods. For veneers, golf clubs, bowls, etc., these woods are of value, as also for weaving shuttles. =Ash= timber is largely used by agricultural implement makers on account of its possessing great elasticity and bearing considerable cross-strain. It is the best wood for shafts of all kinds, for tool handles and wooden rakes, and is largely used by furniture makers.