22 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
fit for that purpose ; indeed, it was through the purveyors for the 
navy that the distinction was often drawn as to its inferior quality, 
being, it was said, more liable to dry-rot, and this tradition still 
lurks in the minds of the older woodmen, several tales being 
told and localities named as to how these worthy gentlemen 
were deceived into passing the durmast oak ; but in latter years, 
as I have said, it will command the same price. This being the 
case with regard to the buyer, it would seem that there is no differ- 
ence; but in looking at the matter from the seller or grower’s 
point of view, the case is different, as sessi//flora increases in bulk 
faster than pedunculata, and, taking the two trees mentioned at 
page 25 as representing the comparative rate of growth, we find 
that the former increases after the rate of 5 feet in ten years, 
whilst the latter increases only 3 feet in the same time; and, if 
we put this quantity at 2s. 6d. per foot, the money stands at 
12s. 6d. and 7s. 6d. respectively. 
It has already been mentioned that the bark of sesstliflora 
contains a percentage more of tannin, but I doubt whether this 
can be appraised to any advantage, as a tree of pedunculata of 
equal size to the other will throw a greater weight of bark, the 
bark of sessilijlora being thinner, presumably owing to its more 
rapid growth. 
The timber of the oak is superior to that of any other native 
tree, and it has Leen said of it “that, although some of the other 
descriptions of timber may be harder, some more difticult to rend, 
some that can bear a horizontal or lateral strain better, none 
contains all these qualities united in such a superior degree as the 
oak.” Although the ‘wooden walls” are a thing of the past, 
still the price has not diminished ; indeed, the tendency is rather 
upwards. But the price of bark varies, as in some years it is so 
low that it scarcely pays expenses, whilst in other years it pays 
well. Much, of course, depends on the season being favourable 
or not. It would be hazardous to say whether the many substi- 
tutes which now and again crop up will ever entirely displace 
it for tanning purposes. A company with large capital has been 
recently started with the object of importing the boiled down 
bark of the spruce as a substitute—a hint which might be useful 
in this country for oak bark as well as spruce, for in certain 
seasons, especially wet ones, it would be a great saving to boil 
down the bark as soon as the trees are stripped, and cask the 
liquor for future use. 
