If you will chuse Timber for Ploughes, ordinary Axel-trées (for those of Elme are speciall) the rings of whéeles harrow bulls, and such like, then you shall chuse the fairest, straightest, biggest, and smoothest growne Ash that you can finde, and from the roote end vpward, you shall cut out a length of Axel-trées, aboue it a length of shelbordes, and aboue it (if the Trée be so large) a length for heads and Skeathes, the largest armes which are somewhat bending, you shall elect for rings for whéeles, and so according to the bignesse of the Ash, and as your eye can proportion out what will be made of the same, you shall make valuation thereof.
Vse of the Wall-nut tree.
If you would chuse Timber for ioyned Tables, Cupbords, or Bedsteds, you shall then make choise of the fairest Walnut-trée you can finde, being olde, straight, vnknotted, and of a high boale: and although either Oake, or Ash will reasonably well serue for this purpose, yet the Walnut-trée is by many degrées the best of all other, for it is of smoothest graine, and to the eye most beautifull, prouided that by no meanes you put it into any worke, before it be excéedingly well seasoned.
Vse of the Peare-tree.
If you would chuse Timber for Ioynt-stooles, Chaires, or Chests, you shall then chuse the oldest Peare-trée so it be sound, for it is both smooth, swéet, and delicate, and though it be a very soft Wood, yet in any of these frames it is an excéeding long laster, and the heart thereof will neuer bréede worme, nor will it in any time loose the colour.
Vse of the Maple, Beech, and Poplar.
If you would chuse Timber for Trenchers, Dishes, or any Tourners ware, or for any in-laying worke, you shall then make choise of the fairest and soundest Maple, being smooth and vnknotted, for it is the plainest graine, and the whitest Wood of all other: and although either the Béech or Poplar will reasonably well serue for these purposes, yet is neither the colours so good, nor the Timber so long lasting. Many other Trées there are which may serue for many other purposes: but these are of most vse for our English Husbandman, and will sufficiently serue to passe through all his businesses.
Of Char-coale.
Touching Char-coale, you shall vnderstand, that Oake, Elme, and Ash, make your longest and best enduring Coale: the Birtch the finest and brightest Coale, and the Béech or Sallow the swiftest Coale. Now for your small Coale, the twigges of the Birtch makes that which kindles the soonest, and the White-thorne that which endures the longest.
How to value Timber.