CATALOGUE OF THE TIMBERS OF THE WORLD 195 



staves, as Quercus crispula is somewhat too porous to be used for this pur- 

 pose, and Q. glandulifera has been shipped only in very small quantities. 



In addition to the timber supplied from Hokkaido, there is an unim- 

 portant source of supply in the central district of the Main Island, on 

 which stands the mountain of Kiso. From this source a small quantity 

 of boards and planks was sent to London in 1914. The species is the 

 same as that of the North Island, but in appearance it is of a pinker 

 shade. The wood also is a little harder, and the medullary rays are 

 bolder and larger. This wood was found to be pierced by small holes 

 slightly wider than the head of a pin, which had been made by insects 

 boring through the trunks of the trees. These worm-holes are seldom, if 

 ever, to be found in the timber from the North Island, and recall those 

 so prevalent in American oaks, though rarely seen in others. The 

 timber of this oak, esteemed more highly in Japan than that of the North 

 Island, is unlikely to be shipped to the United Kingdom in any quantity. 



The pores are very regular and uniform, appearing only in the spring 

 wood, generally in duplicate in each concentric layer. The medullary 

 rays are very strongly defined, but inclined to form curved lines from the 

 centre to the circumference of the tree, rather than to radiate in straight 

 lines. There is a fine secondary medullary ray strongly defined, which is 

 also common to most, if not all, of the Indian oaks. 



The following figures illustrate the increasing demand for this wood 

 during recent years : 



Exports of Oak from Japan 



! 1907. I 



United Kingdom (in loads) 



Germany (in tons) 



France (in loads) — 



Sleepers .... 

 3 j inches and up 

 I j^ inches and up 

 Less than i^ inches . 



Belgium ^ (in tons) — 

 Logs and/or not sawn . 

 Sawn .... 



igo8. 



Z911. 



1912. 



1913. 



1 The figures for Belgium include walnut, which, however, does not consist 

 more than 5 per cent. 



of 



[Table 



