CATALOGUE OF THE TIMBERS OF THE WORLD 287 



ference of from 6 to 10 feet and over. The largest log recorded Wcis one 

 from the Ruby Mines Division, Upper Burma, launched in 1898, which 

 measured 82^ feet in length, 12 feet in girth at the base, and 7 feet in 

 girth at the top, and contained 507 cubic feet of timber which would 

 weigh over 12 tons. Even after this length was cut there was still a 

 considerable sized log to be cut from the top. 



A great many of the trees are incUned to be very crooked, and the 

 stems are often tv\dsted and fluted, making the conversion dif&cult and 

 costly. To-day the best quaUty is considered to be that from Moulmein, 

 although it is difficult to recognise any material difference between that 

 and other varieties. Perhaps the Rangoon timber is sHghtly more 

 crooked in the heart, while that from Bangkok, though better in this 

 respect, is found to contain more bee-holes. The timber from Malabar 

 is slightly denser, harder, and heavier. Teak from Burma and Siam 

 may often be found quite seasoned on arrival, but there is sometimes a 

 little shrinkage : twelve pieces — each 30 inches by 2 inches square, after 

 being subjected to a dry heat of 120° in a seasoning chamber, showed 

 no shrinkage in length ; six pieces were found to have shrunk ^^ to yV of 

 an inch in width. To most people the scent of teak being sawn or 

 worked is agreeable, as also is the scent of a room panelled or trimmed 

 in it, but others regard it as being unpleasant, and occasionally some 

 parcels have had an exceedingly foul smell. In one case expensive 

 fittings costing many hundreds of pounds, finished and fixed, were entirely 

 rejected on this account, and had to be replaced by other wood, though 

 no similar case has been reported. 



Besides the immense quantities required for the navies and ship- 

 building of the world, a vast amount is used for railway-carriage con- 

 struction, and for this work, notwithstanding the great cost, it seems 

 almost impossible to find a satisfactory substitute. Where it is used for 

 panels for railway carriages it might perhaps more often be desirable to 

 substitute mahogany, which is already largely employed. The quantity 

 of teak used, both on account of its fire-resisting quaUties and its immunity 

 from the attack of the white ant, is enormous. It is also used for accumu- 

 lator boxes, as the nature of the wood resists the action of the acids 

 used, and it does not warp or split. It is largety used for floorings for 

 public buildings of all kinds. For such work, however, the fibrous 

 nature of the grain renders it liable to be cut by the tread of nailed shoes, 

 which soon break down the wearing surface. For hard wear of this 

 character other timbers can be substituted with better results at less 

 cost, but it is very suitable for hospitals, where its oily nature and 

 reliable standing qualities provide a sanitary floor with a good effect. 

 The wear which the floors of a hospital sustain is light, so that a harder 

 wearing surface is not necessary. Of late years the greatly enhanced 



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