The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1878-10-02

tbo Unconsidered Uses to which
Wood IL Put.

~ II usual 20 refer the consumption
Of wood TO such causes az the demand
Tor building and engineering purposes,
also such minor demands as the lucifer
match and road-making industries
make. It is true that these are the
principal means by which wood
Is consumed in this and other coun-
tries, but there are countless other
. ways which go to swell the sum total
In no insignificant degree, and vet
which are left in comparative obscur-
ity, for few persons think of them. AS,
for instance, in America tulip.wood is
much used for making wooden bowls,
and for the heads of hair brooms or
sweeping brushes, for eating and drink
ing troughs of cattle, and no inconsid-
erable portion furnishes wood for In
dian canoes. One of the principal
uses of the holly, dyed black, is to be
substituted for ebony, in the handles
of teapots, etc., and the strong,
straight shoots, deprived of their bark,
are made into whip-handles and walk
ing sticks. The lime tree forms the
best planks for shoemakers and glovers
upon W ich to cut their leather, and is
extensively used in the manufacture of
toys and Tunbridge ware, and by the
turner for pill-boxes, etc., and the in
nor bark is made into ropes and mat
ting. The sycamore furnishes wood
for cheese and cider presses, mangles,
etc., and when the wooden dishes and
spoons were in common use they were
mostly made of this wood. It is now
used for printing and bleaching works,
for beetling beams, and in cast iron
foundries for making patterns. The
yew is used by the turner, and made in-
to vases, snuff boxes and musical in
struments, and it is a common saying
among the inhabitants of New Forest
that "a post of yew will outlast q post
OF iron" Where it is found in suffi
clent quantities to be employed for
works under ground, such as water
pipes, pumps, etc., the yew will last
longer than any other wood. Gate
posts and stakes of yew are admirable
In wear, and in France, the wood makes
the strongest of all wooden axle trees.
Of the beech are made planes, screws,
wooden shovels, and common fowling
pieces, and muskets are also stocked
with it, and beech slaves for herring
barrels are not unknown. The sweet or
Spanish chestnut furnishes gate and
other posts, railing and barrel slaves,
hop poles and other such matters, as
strong and good charcoal, though scarce
~ equal to that of oak for domestic
purposes, but considered superior to
that of any other for forges, for which
purpose it is much used in Spain, and al
so in Switzerland. Horn beam is the
best wood that can be used for cogs of
wheels, excelling either the crab or the
yew, but its application in this manner
Is about at an end. AS fuel it stands
IN the highest rank, emitting much
heat, burning long, and with bright,
clear fame. In charcoal it is also
mighty priced, not only for culinary
purposes and the forge, but also for the
manufacture of gunpowder, into
which, on the Continent, it enters in
large proportion, In Russia, many of
the roads are formed of the trunks of
the Scotch pine, trees from six inches
TO foot in diameter at the larger end
being selected for the purpose. These
are laid down side by side across the
intended road, the thick end of one al
ternatlng with the narrow end of the
other, the branches being left at the
End to form sort of hedge on each
ide OF the road. When thus laid, the
noliows are filled up with earth, and
the road is finished, being Analogous to
the corduroy roads of North America.
IA Germany, casks are made of larch,
which is almost indestructible, and al
lows OF no evaporation of the spirit
nous particles of the wine contained in
Ehem. In Switzerland it is much used
2Qr vine props, which are never taken
np, and which see crop after crop of
vines spring up, bear their fruit and
perish at their feet, without showing
symptoms OF decay. The uninjured
7ate In which it remains when buried
"a the earth or immersed in water rem
aers 1t an excellent material for water
ptpes, to which purpose it is largely
ppiied IN many parts of France. The
onttemut is esteemed tor the posts and
rails OF rural fences in America, for
4Oughs for the use of cattle, for corn
lovels and wooden dishes. Shell-bark
ekory provides baskets, whip handles
ad the backbows of Windsor chairs
4e pignut hickory is preferred to any
aef for axle trees and ax-handles.
Tic sugar maple is used by wheel
sEhts for axle-trees and spokes, and
lining the runners of common sleds.
pgwood is used for the handles of
By tools, such as mallets, small vises,
In the country it furnishes har-
teeth to the American farmer, and
pies the hames of horses collars,
also lining for the runners of
ges. The mountain laurel Is selected
he handles of light tools, for small
eWs, boxes, etc. 1t most resembles
pxwood, and is most proper to supply
place. Bowls and trays are made of
birch, and when saplings of hickory
white oak are not to be found, hoops,
flcularly those of rice casks, are made
the yoPhg stocks and of branches not
eedizg one inch in diameter. It's
81 are exclusively chosen for the
ons with which the streets and court