Odd things in envelopes

In the mail yesterday there were two chunks of wood.  Granted, we are getting quotes for a new fence, but I never thought they'd send samples, two different bits of wood smelling like they've been dunked in something toxic.  Happily the cheaper fence seems to be made out of better wood, it has a tighter grain and feels more dense than the more expensive stuff.  "Less expensive" is a relative term in fencing, requiring payment of merely a hand and foot, not the whole arm and leg.