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" Ellum " A vigorous attempt is being made by the Timber Association to encourage the wooden house in Britain. The timber houses of the United States are held up as a model, and a number of them are used as illustrations of the latest book, Timber Houses (Country Life, 7s. 6d.). The many merits of timber (which is never capable of such hideous ill-use as cement or brick) must be granted ; but one reason why they have not been exploited in England is the backwardness of the timber merchants themselves. I may be allowed perhaps to give my own experience. When I built a house a few years ago, my architect desired block elm for parts of the staircase ; but had to give up the idea because he could not get the elm. There must be some grievous lack of organisation when it is impossible to buy a small quantity of much the commonest wood in the country. How many cords of it are left to lie and rot every year is a sum beyond calculation. No wood makes more beautiful panelling than elm, but it seems to be generally unknown that our excellent research students at Princes Risboro' have discovered how to prevent the warping for which elm has a bad reputation. Happily rough elm boarding, which is always beautiful, increases in favour ; and here a method of nailing has been discovered which cancels the dangers of warping. One of the cheapest and best forms of out-house has elm boards, felt and pantiles as its ingredients. Here again how is it, in this clayland of ours, that most of the pantiles of any virtue come from abroad ? What is to be said for an industry that neglects its own soil and its own timber ?
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