668 Forestry Quarterly. 



considered that the Malay district is closer than any other source 

 of supply, it can readily be predicted that South China will be sup- 

 plied almost entirely from the Malay district. At present the 

 native woods are used far more commonly than any other, with an 

 exception, possibly, in the case of Hongkong itself. 



Wood-Using Industries. 



Turning now to the many classes of wood-using industries in 

 China we note the following kinds of material used : 



General Building Purposes. 



For the ordinary Chinese houses, etc., native woods still lead, 

 but in the ports the growth in the use of imported woods for 

 flooring, interior finish, etc., is rapid, and the use of imported 

 woods for such purposes is bound to spread even more rapidly 

 with the change from the old-type one-story building to modern 

 structures. For North China the great bulk of such imported 

 woods will be supplied by Japan, followed in turn by the Yalu 

 River district and Siberian points, and there will be only a limited 

 use for other woods, such, for example, as long lengths and sizes 

 which cannot be supplied by the Japanese. For the Yangtse basin 

 there will be more competition. In the near future probably the 

 proportion of Japanese wood will increase, but in about five years 

 — or after the Panama Canal is open — very likely the Oregon pine 

 will be very little used there, Malay woods taking its place. And 

 in a comparatively short time these Malay woods will become the 

 most commonly used woods in the district. As mentioned before, 

 this is bound to come, as they are ever so much more satisfactory 

 than the Japanese woods for the climatic conditions there ; and 

 there will not be a great difference in price such as now exists 

 between the two. 



For South China, for general building purposes, the Malay dis- 

 trict will probably supply practically all of the imported wood 

 .used. 



For Railroads. 



At present and probably for a long time to come, the entire 

 supply of railroad ties, etc., will have to be imported into China. 

 For North China, Japan will undoubtedly continue to have, as at 

 present, a practical monopoly in supplying railroad ties — as Japan 

 is closer than any other source of supply and their oaks, chestnuts, 

 and some other woods, last very well in the climate there. 



For the Yangtse basin in the valley land itself, Japanese oaks, 

 so far, even when treated with copper sulphate, have not proved 

 very satisfactory. Experiments will now be made with Japanese 

 woods creosoted, and much will depend upon the success of these 

 in proportion to their cost as to whether or not they will be 



