CATALOGUE OF THE TIMBERS OF THE WORLD 285 



Procurable in long lengths, and up to 12 inches in width. Used for 

 ships' blocks and for cheap furniture." 



Tawhai. Fagus fusca, Hook, f. Weight, 53 lbs. New Zealand. 



This timber, which is also known as black birch, is, according to 

 the Board of Agriculture, New Zealand, " red in colour, straight, even, 

 compact in grain, tough and durable in all situations. Procurable in 

 long lengths, and up to 24 inches in width. Used for piles, stringers, 

 bridge and wharf planking, and mining- timbers." 



Baterden says that this wood " was the only timber used for a stiffened 

 suspension bridge, spanning Chasm Creek Gorge." 



Teak. Tectona grandis, Linn. Weight, 45 lbs. India, Burma, Siam, 

 Java. 



The supplies of this timber are shipped from Moulmein and Rangoon 

 in Burma, Malabar in India, Bangkok in Siam, and from the Island of 

 Java. Mr. McKinlay says that he found one patch of true teak [Tectona 

 grandis) in the PhiUppine Islands, where the trees appeared to be about 

 forty years old and were growing in close forest as though they had 

 been planted. 



The wood varies from yellow or straw colour to a rich brown when 

 first cut, darkening on exposure ; sometimes it has dark and almost black 

 streaks or veins, this last feature being more often found in the Java 

 wood, and in that from some parts of the Indian Peninsula. Troup 

 speaks of the so-called " Godaveri teak " as being particularly handsome 

 in this respect. 



Teak works with an oily surface, and when first cut has a sticky 

 feeUng to the hand. It is moderately hard and strong, clean, even 

 and straight in the grain, and is easily worked. It shrinks very little 

 in seasoning, and the logs do not side-shake. It contains an essen- 

 tial oil which clogs the pores and resists the action of water ; this 

 often oozes into and congeals in the shakes which radiate from the pith, 

 forming there a hard concrete substance which blunts the tool. The oil 

 also acts as a preventive of fust when iron is in contact with it, and for 

 this reason teak is preferred to all other known woods for the backing 

 to the armour-plates of ironclad ships of war. The wood often contains 

 a white deposit. This was analysed in an experiment made in 1862 by 

 Professor Abel, which is quoted by Gamble, with the following result : 



Per cent. 

 Lime 



