670 Forestry Quarterly. 



be used exclusively. The prices paid for piling in Hongkong run 

 to about 50 cents a cubic foot for the best grades. 



For Mine Timbers. 



For these, so far, a rather large share of the timbers used has 

 been Japanese wood, but this is largely because most of the mining 

 development has been in North China away from any local supply 

 of wood. The Japanese timbers will probably continue to control 

 the market for mine timbers in North China, as they are cheap and 

 their sizes adapt them well for that purpose. For Central and 

 South China, probably native poles will be must used. 



In connection with the supply of mine timbers, it might be noted 

 that the largest mining company at present — the Chinese Engi- 

 neering and Mining Company — always stipulates in their contract 

 for the supply of timbers that the timber contractor shall in turn 

 buy so much of their coal. 



For Shipbuilding. 



At present the woods most commonly used are Oregon pine for 

 decking, and teak for finish, railings, etc., and of course a little 

 lignum vitae for special purposes. These woods are very satis- 

 factory, and whether or not they can be replaced by others is a 

 question. Undoubtedly the Oregon pine decking might be re- 

 placed by ordinary Malay woods, such as the grade of the Philip- 

 pine lauaans, provided these Malay woods were well seasoned. 

 Teak apparently, will be very difficult to replace, as it is so fine in 

 quality that hardly any other wood can equal it. However, 

 when the price rises higher than at present — and there is every 

 indication that the price of teak will rise rapidly — it is quite likely 

 that some of the better Malay woods will be found to replace it ; 

 especially when better knowledge is had concerning the methods 

 of seasoning these Malay woods so that they will stand without 

 excessive warping or shrinking and expanding after being put in 

 place. Likely substitutes for teak would be woods of the grade 

 of Philippine yacal, where strength is desired, and of the grade 

 of the Philippine red lauaans or tanguile for finish. For lignum 

 vitae, there is a possibility that a wood similar to the Philippine 

 mancono may partly replace it. 



There should be a very large development in the shipbuilding 

 trade in China in the near future when the Chinese produce their 

 own iron and steel, taken in connection with the skill and ability 

 of Chinese mechanics and the wages they receive in comparison 

 with wages elsewhere. 



For Furniture. 



For the native furniture by far the greatest amount is made 

 of native woods. The finest native furniture, generally called 



