CONCERNING THE TEAK TREE, 349 



by far the best wood we yet know of in this country for ship- 

 building, but also for the house-carpenter, and almost every 

 other work where strong, durable, easily-wrought, light wood 

 is required. The advantages to be derived from the cultivation 

 of so valuable a tree, where nature has not bestowed it, must 

 therefore be obvious to every one ; particularly in Bengal, 

 where it grows well, and the demand is so great. The teak 

 tree is a native of Pegu. 



Government, sensible of what is here stated, have long given Encouraged 

 every possible encouragement for an extensive propagation, by govern- 

 But to render it still more general, the native land-holders must 

 be made sensible of the advantages they may expect to derive 

 from large plantations thereof. 



The growth of the tree is rapid, and at all ages the wood its growth is 

 (from various experiments) appears excellent. Some trees in "P^^* 

 the Honourable Company's Botanic Garden, brought from the 

 Rajahmundry Circar in 1787, were, in J 804, from three to 

 upwards of four feet in girth, at three and a half feet above 

 ground, and high in proportion*. These plants were about 

 twelve months old when sent from the coast, so that their pre- 

 sent age is about seventeen years. A tree promising so much 

 advantage in so short a space, compared to what the oak re- 

 quires in England to become serviceable in the marine yard, 

 makes it h^^hly worthy of every attention and encouragement. 

 A few observations on rearing the plants from the seed seem 

 necessary, as I have often known seeds from the same tree suc- 

 ceed with one person, and totally fail with another. 



The nut in which the seeds are lodged, is exceeding hard, Seeds, and 



containsfour cells, and in each is lodged a single small seed. "^^"".^"^ °^„ 



Ob planting, &c. 



It has been ascertained, that they perfectly retain their vege- 

 tating power in the growth, even as far as eighteen months j 

 however, it is advisable to sow them about the beginning of the 

 first periodical rains, or north-westers, after they are taken ripe 



* The largest of those trees measured, at three feet and a half above 

 the ground, in February, 17S6, forty-two inches in circumference. The 

 same tree was, in February, 1804, fifty-two inches in circumference at 

 the same place, which gives an annual increase of one inch and a quar- 

 ter. However, while the trees are younger, and in a more favourable 

 soil than where this tree stands, their yearly growth is from two to 

 three inches, which is fully double the increase of oak in England. 



from 



