CHAPTER XIII. 



THE FRENCH OAK TREE (Quercus). 



THE Oak timber of the north-western provinces of 

 France, and especially of Brittany and Normandy, so 

 closely resembles British Oak timber in colour, quality, 

 texture, and general characteristics, that a description 

 of one will as nearly as possible serve for the other. 

 It is, therefore, I think, fairly entitled to the first 

 notice after that which has been adopted as our 

 standard. 



The French Government until quite recently claimed 

 the right of first selection of this description of timber, 

 and drew nearly all their supplies from the western 

 districts, for the use of their own dockyards, the landed 

 proprietors and merchants not being free to offer it 

 on the market until the full requirements of the 

 French navy were met. Consequently, but little, if 

 any, of good quality was left for exportation after 

 the demands of the private trade of that country were 

 satisfied. 



