CATALOGUE OF THE TIMBERS OF THE WORLD 163 



Nutwood. Dicorynia Maraensis, Bth. Weight, 49 lbs. 3 oz. (fresh 

 undried sample). Dutch Guiana. 



Fifteen logs of a timber to which this name was given were received 

 in London during 19 14. According to information received, this wood 

 is called " locus " in British Guiana. The logs are hewn square, and 

 in shape and size bear a strong likeness to greenheart logs. The wood is 

 of a light nut-brown colour, and is capable of a smooth surface from the 

 tool, with rather a shiny or lustrous gloss. The tangential grain is inter- 

 spersed with short darker brown lines formed by the pores. The grain 

 and texture might be compared to a mild African mahogany, which in 

 these respects it much resembles. It gives all indications of being 

 likely to stand well without warping or shrinking. 



The pores are scattered and irregular in size and position, some being 

 rather large and open. The medullary rays are fine, close, and parallel, 

 but irregular. They are rather obscure, and are joined at uneven intervals 

 by similar white lines. The concentric laj'^ers are quite distinctly marked. 



Oak. Quercus spp. 



There are many different species of oaks, all belonging to the genus 

 Quercus, and confined to the northern hemisphere : thus the " she-oaks " 

 of Australia, " African oak," and others from the southern hemisphere 

 are not oaks, nor even allied to them. 



In Great Britain grow two native species and their hybrids, and both 

 of these are deciduous, that is to say, they annually shed all their foUage 

 in autumn. These extend widely over Europe, through France, Germany, 

 Austria, and Russia, and supply the British, Austrian, and Russian 

 oak. Going southwards to the Mediterranean region the deciduous species 

 are more numerous, and are reinforced by evergreen oaks (hobn oak, 

 cork oak) which are never leafless. Passing on to India the number of 

 kinds, both deciduous and evergreen, is still greater, but none yields 

 timber that is exported to any extent. Again, in Japan quite a number of 

 kinds of oaks grow, and among them are two deciduous species that supply 

 to England and Europe generally, the well-known Japanese oak. Crossing 

 the Pacific to Canada other species of deciduous oaks are encountered, and 

 again on going south to the United States they are increased in numbers 

 and supplemented by evergreen species ; from this wealth of species are 

 derived the medley of timbers known as American oak and (from ever- 

 green species) " live oak." 



The commercial oaks may be ranged under three main headings. 



1. European : {a) British ; {h) Russian ; (c) Austrian ; all, or nearly 

 all, deri\'ed from two closely-allied species. 



2. American : {a) deciduous, derived from a mixture of species ; 

 (6) " live oak," derived from one or more evergreen species. 



