SHIP- AXD BOAT-BUILDING. 127 



in the construction of a ship, and the forester should at any rate 

 be able to recognize the better qualities, and whether the oak- 

 timber his forests produce is fit for ship-building, or not. 



It is difficult to decide whether the pedunculate or sessile oak 

 is really preferable ; but most of the wood used in ship-yards is 

 pedunculate oak ; in Norway, however, that of the sessile oak is 

 preferred. Oakwood from rich soils and mild climates is best, and 

 the countries bordering on the Adriatic sea, Istria and Carinthia, 

 yield the best oak, that from Slavonia, the Spessart and Poland 

 being less suited for ship-building. [English and French oak- 

 timber is also largely used in dock-yards, and French (and 

 Sussex) oakwood is preferred in England. — Tk.] 



In the north of Europe, a number of smaller coasting vessels 

 and fishing and river-boats are constructed of coniferous wood. 

 Larchwood is preferred, but spruce and Scotch pinewood are 

 chiefly used, the latter being much more serviceable than spruce. 

 Light boats are also built of the wood of Sallv alba. 



Teakwood {Tectona grandis) is at present much more 

 employed in ship-building than oakwood, it scarcely warps at 

 all, is more durable than the latter and does not rust iron nails 

 and bolts. Certain species of Eiicahjptas from Australia and 

 Tasmania are also used for ship-building. [*Tewart or White 

 Gum {E. gom2:)liocephala), Jarrah {E. diversicolor), Iron- 

 bark {E. siderophloia) and Blue Gum {E. Glubulus). — Tr.] 

 Mahogany {Sivietenia Mahorjani) is also used and the Pitch pine 

 (Pi?ms rti(.s^jT(Zis) for boards; of the American oaks, Qiwrcns rirens 

 and Q. alba are most esteemed. The chief obstacle to the use 

 of oakwood is the tannic acid it contains, which involves rapid 

 rust in all iron with which it is in contact, and consequent 

 decay in the wood. The chief value of several tropical and 

 sub-tropical species of trees for ship-building consists in the 

 absence of tannic acid in their wood. 



Next to oakwood, wood of the Scotch pine or red deal is 

 largely used in ship-building, chiefly for masts and rudders. 

 This timber varies in quality much more than oakwood, and the 

 best qualities of red deal are strongly resinous and have narrow 

 annual zones. {Vide Plate II.) 



* Firfc Timber and Timber Trees, by Laslett. 2ud edition. Macmillan & Co. 

 1894. 



