n 6 TIMBER AND TIMBER TREES. [CHAP. 



but, as the evidence of its utility goes no farther than to 

 show the advantage gained in being able to float the 

 timber immediately it is felled, it seems probable that 

 before long it will be given up entirely. Experiments- 

 have been made in Burmah* in felling green Teak, but, 

 as out of 100 trees so felled, twenty-seven in number had 

 extensive heart-shake, and ten others were less seriously 

 affected, it was thought desirable to carry the experi- 

 ments farther before determining the matter in question.. 



Although imported and known under the general 

 name of Teak, there are many varieties, if not distinct 

 species of it, the Burmese naming those found in their 

 country after the districts in which they grow ; thus, in 

 the Moulmein district there are the Thoungyeen, the 

 Sal ween, the Karanee, the Attaran, and the Laingbooe 

 Teak ; and in the Rangoon district, the Irrawaddy Teak, 

 all differing slightly in colour, grain, texture, and specific 

 gravity. 



The Thoungyeen and the Salween Teak timber are 

 of a yellowish-brown colour, smooth and uniform in their 

 texture, with a fine long grain. The Karanee Teak has 

 alternate shades of dull brown and yellow colour, the 

 grain being close and long, with occasionally a rowiness, 

 or figure, in it, and is also very free from defects. The 

 Attaran Teak is rather stunted in growth compared with 

 the varieties just mentioned, but is of fully the same 

 circumference. The wood is brownish in colour, dense, 

 hard, and resembles very much the Malabar Teak. It is 

 heavier than either the Thoungyeen or Karanee, and is 

 also coarser and more knotty, owing to the branches 

 occurring lower down the stem. Some of these, from 

 accident or otherwise, get broken off, and defects, arising 



* Forest Reports. 



