CATALOGUE OF THE TIMBERS OF THE WORLD 177 



In addition to the supplies of Austrian oak cut in the manner already 

 indicated, a certain amount is exported in the form of round bark-covered 

 butts, or these sawn into planks or boards, also in the form of square- 

 edged planks (both plain and figured) and boards. The last-named serve 

 for flooring and parquetry, but the trade in these for such purposes is 

 limited by their high cost, as it is possible to procure equally suitable oak 

 from other sources at a lower cost. In Hungary, however, an extensive 

 industry in oak parquetry is conducted. 



In the autumn of 1914, after the war had broken out, H.M. Office of 

 Works issued a specification demanding the use of " Austrian oak " for 

 the panelling of " armament buildings," then intended to provide the 

 ofQce for the Board of Agriculture. Following a letter of remonstrance 

 addressed to the Times by " Man in the Street " H.M. Office of Works 

 altered the specification to a demand for British oak, and this was 

 therefore used for trimming two rooms, which, beautiful in design and 

 execution, have a very handsome effect. The work was carried out by 

 Messrs. Cleaver, and a brass plate has been affixed which notes the botani- 

 cal variety of the wood and the places whence the oak trees came. 



Oak, British. Quercus pedunculata, Ehrh., and Q. sessiliflora, Sm. 

 Weight, 52 lbs. 14 oz. The British Isles. 



The two kinds of British oak timbers hardly differ, if they differ at 

 all, in their general qualities. On the whole, it is possible that the product 

 of Q. pedunculata is slightly stronger and harder than that of Q. sessiliflora, 

 although, as the proportion of suppUes of the latter is so much less than 

 that of the former, I have been unable after close observation over many 

 years to detect any real difference, and it appears to me that the 

 quality of both varieties either as regards mildness or strength, is 

 dependent upon the soil and the situation in which they have been 

 grown. There is no doubt that there is a much more marked differ- 

 ence in the qualities suppUed from Continental sources. Laslett says : 

 "It is the prevailing opinion that the wood of the Quercus Robur 

 pedunculata is the best in quality, and that the Quercus Robur sessili- 

 flora is sUghtly inferior to it " ; but while agreeing generally in this 

 opinion, I feel bound to admit that during a long experience in working 

 them, I have not been able to discover any important difference between 

 them. We find indeed the wood of the two species so closely resembUng 

 each other that few surveyors are able to speak positively as to the 

 identity of either. It is only by tracing the log from the feUing of the 

 tree to the hands of the convertor that we are able to say that the timber 

 of the sessiliflora is a little less dense and compact in texture than that 

 of the pedunculata." 



With the knowledge of Laslett's experience in mind I have never 



N 



