Strengths and Weaknesses

Wood fiber has amazing strength in a way that not many people consider.
Try this: pick up a tiny, straight woody twig and hold it firmly at each end. Now pull with all your might! Now push! No effect, right?
Now try this: bend it until it breaks. It does so with minimal effort.
This simple example is a good way to help understand where a trees strengths lie, and where some weaknesses are exposed.