( 80 ) 



its slinpe and size, improves. Pines in the north of Europe at high elevations, produce hard 

 wood with narrow uunual rings, wliile those grown in the phiius in light soil, are the very 

 reverse. In the same way the attainable age of trees varies according to the locality in 

 which they grow, and it stands to teuson why, for instance, the larch in Northern Russia should 

 be a tree of great durability, and should attain there a great age, while this is not the case in 

 the low lands of Germany. The value of timber must necessarily vary, and one and the 

 same kind of timber is therefore paid for at different rates according to its qnality. In tro- 

 pical India the same variation in the quality of timber is observable, but the causal factors differ 

 to a certain degree from those of temperate climes. The annual concentric layers of wood 

 are, especially in evergreens, not so distinctly marked, or are not distinguisliable at all, and 

 thus the study from the wood alone is rendered much more difficult. It is also well known, 

 that the wood of the different parts of a tree, such as the root stock, branches, etc., may be 

 different from the timber of the mainstem. It is very necessary, therefore, that tliese matters 

 should be carefully studied, in order that advantage may be taken of such variations for prac- 

 tical purposes. 



1 would name for a first trial the following trees in Pegu, which are best adapted for an 

 experimental enquiry into such questions : 



Teak, thein gala ( Nauclea Hessilifolia) , nau (Naiiclea cordifolia,), pyenkadu, thit (Alhizzia 

 procera.) lepau or didu (Bombax Malahariaim.) , baup (Butea fromiosa,) nabbe {Odina Wo- 

 dier,) yindyke (Dalbergia cultrata,) Kwe {Spomlias piunafa,) maugo, thit magyi {Albizzia 

 Ofloratitssima,) yuug (Anoyeissxis acuininatm). All these trees sh(mld be full grown, and their 

 timber should be examined according to the soil in which the trees grow, whether it be 



(1.) From deep alluvium, in tidal regions (thus saline to a certain degree,) like diduj 

 thit and baup. 



(2.) From deep alluvium (fresh water) as in the typical savannah forests. 



(3.) From true (cavernous) laterite as in the typical eng forests. 



(4.) From permeable siliceous sandstone, as in the typical upper mixed forests. 



(5.) From impermeable calcareous sandstone, as in the dry forests of the Prome district. 



(G.) From metamorphic rocks, such as syenites, shists, etc., as in many of the upper 

 mixed forests of Martaban, E. of Sittang. 



Some of these trees may also possibly occur on limestone-strata ; if so, these should be 

 added. Teak in Java* also grows on volcanic (chiefly trachytic) rocks and debris. 



It is obvious that an examination of the timber grown on so many different substrata 

 must, on the principles laid down, give results of the greatest interest and importance, 

 and they will most probably shew that permeable strata will produce softer, and impermeable 

 strata harder timber. It is also clear that if a greater number of species are used for this 

 purpose, the value of the results will be greater. If at the same time the same trees are examined 

 under the same soil conditions in two very different climates (say an equable damp and an ex- 

 cessively dry one) and in different elevations, the results would be still more conclusive. 



When the relationship of the quality of timber on those typical formations has been 

 ascertained, it will be an easy matter to draw from it deductions with regard to timber grown 

 on strata of an intermediate nature. 



* Dr. Junghuhn writes (Java, I. p. 347. sqq.) : 



" Travelling through the island (Java) from W. to E. one sees 



(1.) The first teak forests in the plains, which spread oul between Tji raanuli and the promontory hills 

 of the nortliern base of Gunung Tjerimai, growing on hard clayish soil. Further, we find teak forests : 



(2.; In the hills of the northern base of Guuuug Prau, over which the road leads from Pekalongan to 

 Samarang, on hard red-coloured clay-soil. 



(3.) On a similar soil, resting on sandstone, at the N. W. and N. base of Gunung Ungaran. 



(4.) On the low hills which begin in the vicinity of the E. base of the Gunung Ungaran and G. Merbabu, 

 and which extend from here to the northern banks of Kali Solo and further up at both sides of the river in an 

 easterly direction as far as the vicinity of Sedayu and Surabaya. In this region, many limestone beds are found', 

 but teak grows on the sandstone. 



(5.) On the northern half of Gunung Kidu-en of Jogjakerta, on sandstone, for instance, between Kebo 

 Kuning and Awu Awu. 



(6.) Round the W., N. E. and N. base of Gunung Wilies teak makes its appearance eastward of the second 

 post station Tjaruban where the trunk road from Madiun to Kediri runs through the plains and extends to the 

 other side of the 4th post station Wilangan at the N. E. base of the hill : over this whole area teak grows on a 

 bed of trachytic pebbles on which a hard heavy surface soil rests. 



(7.) In the Residency (province) Kediri and the neighbouring Residency of Surabaya, teak grows around the 

 base of the hills Ardjuno and Kelut, and more especially on the S. W. and S. slopes of the last naiued hill in 

 the districts Srengat and Blitar, here growing on volcanic sand." 



Teak is now planted in Java in large quantities and the cultivated teak is said to produce timber of a better 

 quality than that of the wild grown trees. Here the average age of a full prowii teak tree is said to be 

 100 years. It is colisidered useful to burn yearly the shrubbery and grass in the teak forests, by which process 

 the ground cracks and becomes looser and richer in ashes, Teak does not grow high in Java, and trees of 70 

 to 8U feet are rare, the average height being 50 to 60 feet, with somewhat crooked and knotty stems, and a few 

 for spreading branches, the surface of which is as smooth and pale coloured as the stems stripped of their bark. 

 In March and April teak trees are in foliage and in blossom, but they shed their leaves in July. 



