In temperate countries annual rings of native woods, marking each year's growth, can be clearly seen, and usually by the naked eye.

In early spring the growth starts rapidly and large spongy cells are formed. These constitute the soft spring-wood. As the summer progresses, the cells formed are smaller and harder, also they are slower in growth.

It follows then that each annual ring has two parts, the broader spring-wood and narrower band of summer growth. When these annual rings can be clearly seen, as described, we speak of 'ring porous' woods. Examples of these are ash, elm, and oak. During the autumn and winter the tree rests and growth ceases.

The rate of growth varies a great deal according to species, climate and altitude.

In tropical countries trees such as ebony, continue to grow all the year round and there are no marked rings, only areas of growth.

Broadly, we can divide trees into two groups: 'softwoods', or those belonging to the conifae, like firs and pines, and 'hardwoods', belonging to the dicotyledonae, or broad leaved varieties.

As in the case of all generalizations, careful study discovers subdivisions of this rule.

The softwoods belong to a more primitive and simple type of tree structure, while the hardwoods are far more complex in form. These are botanical terms and do not refer to actual hardness or softness.

Continued...From the wonderful wood working book "Wood Carving" by Freda Skinner.

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