194 THE TIMBERS OF THE WORLD 



kinds exposed during the same period. Sleepers of Japanese oak laid 

 on the Metropolitan Railway, between King's Cross and Farringdon 

 Street, were taken up quite sound after many years, with the portion 

 of the sleeper in contact with the ground not decayed or injured, not- 

 withstanding the special strain of this portion of the line, where the 

 steam and the continual change from wet to dry tell heavily on the 

 timber. Where there was a previous indication of decay it became a 

 little extended internally, but the general result is favourable to the 

 durability of the wood in contact with the ground. 



One of the defects of the oak of all countries is its liabiUty to brown 

 streaky stains running through the wood, and this is perhaps the worst 

 defect of Japanese timber, and is no doubt due to some of it being over- 

 ripe. 



The wood shrinks a little more than some kinds of oak, but seasons 

 more quickly, and is easier to work and fume or stain, and has a good 

 appearance. This oak is particularly suitable for floorings, either in 

 parquet or long boards. As the wood is mild and clean it holds its shape 

 after planing, and being closely grained as well as elastic, the fibres are not 

 so cut by the wear of the rough tread ; and as its cost is moderate, the 

 best and most mature timber can be used for the purpose. In Austrian or 

 other European or American oak, on the contrary, the well-grown trees can 

 all be utilised for making wide boards for wainscoting, and consequently 

 realise a much higher price than is paid for floorings, with the result 

 that immature wood and large branches are often converted for this 

 purpose. 



It is possible to obtain quite satisfactory results by seasoning Japanese 

 oak by artificial processes. On more than one occasion perfectly fresh 

 logs have been sawn up, artificially seasoned, and worked into panelling 

 and fittings, which have been fixed and the whole process completed 

 within three months, while the work executed has afterwards shown no 

 sign of shrinkage or other fault. It is doubtful if such a proceeding 

 could be carried out with any other kind of commercial oak with the 

 same satisfactory results. Panelling, church seats and roofs, ship's 

 fittings and aU kinds of high-class cabinet and joiner's work, when 

 finished, give very pleasing results, hardly, if at all, distinguishable from 

 work in European oak (British excepted). 



Many very important buildings, both in the United Kingdom and on 

 the Continent, have been completed in Japanese oak, and the wood 

 grows more in favour and demand every day. While relatively strong, 

 it has not the strength of the British or some kinds of American oak, and 

 on this account is not in favour for heavy railway waggon planks, though 

 apart from this fact the cost of transport would prevent its competition 

 with the kinds obtainable. Neither has it found much favour yet for 



