CHAPTER XV, 



THE DANTZIC OAK TREE 



THIS Oak derives its name from the port of shipment, 

 but is chiefly the produce of the Polish forests, whence 

 the bulk of it is brought down the river Vistula to 

 Dantzic ; small quantities are also sent into the ports 

 of Memel and Stettin by other sources. 



There is a considerable quantity of Oak timber 

 exported from these three places in logs, varying from 

 1 8 to 30 feet in length, and from 10 to 16 inches square, 

 and also planks 24 feet and upwards in length, averaging 

 about 32 feet, the breadth being from 9 to 15 inches, 

 and the thickness varying from 2 to 8 inches. Large 

 quantities of staves, roughly cleft from the tree, are also 

 exported in various sizes, suitable for the manufacture of 

 every description of cask or barrel. 



The Dantzic -Polish or Prussian Oak timber is 

 obtained from a tree of straight growth. It is brown 

 in colour, of moderate strength and hardness, rather 

 porous, and has the medullary rays bright and sufficiently 



