2l6 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



50,000 cubic feet of English oak timber. Some of these 

 timbers are of very great dimensions, and we read of, among 

 others, hammer-posts "out of 38|-inch by 25-inch timbers 

 21 feet long," of collar-beams " comprised of two members each 

 19 ins. by 12 ins., 40 feet long"; and of lower principal 

 rafters "out of 17-ins. by ii-ins. timbers, 27 feet long." 

 Most of the timbers show little sign of sapwood, and they are 

 reasonably free from knots. The description of these timbers 

 calls to mind the ancient canoe found in 1726, near the 

 influx of the Carron into the Forth. This was described as 

 being 36 feet long, 4 feet broad in the middle and 4 ft. 4 ins. 

 deep with sides 4 inches thick. It was said to be of one 

 solid piece of oak of extraordinary hardness, and with not one 

 knot in the whole block. The trees produced in those far 

 bygone days must have been very fine in size and quality. 



The writer goes into some details of the investigation into 

 the question as to the species of wood used in the construction 

 of the roof, which was ultimately decided in favour of oak. 

 He also gives the reasoning which runs down the species to 

 the pedunculate oak. 



For the first 260 years of the roof's existence only minor 

 patching would appear to have been done, but periodically from 

 then onwards, the carpenters and engineers made various 

 repairs. As the result of a report published in 1914 repairs 

 were undertaken and are now almost completed. These, it is 

 considered, will assure the stability of the roof for hundreds 

 of years if the walls remain untouched. The need for this 

 last repair was brought about by the ravages of certain 

 Anobiidae, and the method of reducing the danger of future 

 attacks is described. 



As an adjunct to this article Lieut-Col. G. L. Courthorpe, 

 M.P., gives details of the source from which the new timbers 

 were supplied. 



The rival timber, Indian teak, is dealt with by S. M. Edwards, 

 and he gives interesting facts showing how long this material 

 may last when subjected to the severe practical test of ship- 

 building. He also cites the marvellous endurance of teak ribs 

 built into a cave at the time of its excavation about 80 B.C. 

 These ribs, says the writer, were as perfect in 19 11 as when 

 the "pious excavator" completed this relic shrine of Buddha 

 about two thousand years ago. 



