Beams, I ^™^^ ™^^^> 

 L Half timber, 



TIMBBa USED IN SDPBHSTHDOTDRBS. 45 



Ends, pieces of the same girth as logs, but shorter than 6 feet. 

 Spabs, pieces at least 12 feet long and between 24 and 36 inches 



in girth at butt. 

 Poles, pieces at least 12 feet long, and not more than 24 inches 



girth at butt. 

 Posts, pieces of the same girth as poles, but only from 8 to 12 



feet long. 



Billets, pieces of the same girth as posts, but shorter than 8 

 feet. 



Sawn timber with at least two parallel faces. 



... 9"x9" to 18" X 18" 



... 9"x4i" „ 18"x 9" 



Scantlings, ... ... 5"x4" „ 9"x 9" 



Planks, ... ... ... 11" to 18" x 3" to 6* 



Deals, (conifers) or boaeds (broad- 

 leaved species), ... 8" „ 9" x 1" „ 4" 

 Battens, ... ... ... 4" „ 7" x f" „ 3" 



Laths, ... ... ... 2"„ 4" x J" „ 1" 



AeTIOLB 1. TiMBEE USED IN SCPEESTEUOTUEES. 



The superstructures referred to here are those of buildings, of 

 bridges and piers (piles excluded), and other similar constructions. 



1. Superstructures of buildings. 



Speaking in a general manner we have six classes of build- 

 ings according as the walls are made (a), entirely of logs (block- 

 houses or log-huts), or (5), of planks or boards fixed on a frame- 

 work of scantlings, or (c), of laths or saplings plastered over 

 with mud (wattle and daub huts), or (d), of mud or sun-dried 

 bricks (kucha walls) or (e), of stone or burnt brick joined with mud 

 mortar (kucha masonry), or (/), stone or sun-dried bricks joined 

 with lime mortar. 



Daub and wattle constructions are from their nature not intend- 

 ed to last for more than a few years. White-ants rapidly destroy 

 all but a few woods, and fungi find every condition favourable for 

 their ravages. . In such structures the whole weight of the roof is 

 carried on posts let into the ground or at least into mortar. 

 Hence the posts should be of durable wood and the roof as light- 

 timbered as possible consistent with strength and stability. Hence 

 the roof will consist principally of split' or unsplit bamboos, where 

 bamboos are available. 



