416 



FAST-GROWN TIMBER 



I also find, upon looking to evidence of another kind, that 

 the following are the rates of growth of various other specimens 

 of Oak. 



It is to be hoped that the evidence now produced will satisfy 

 the most sceptical person that fast-grown Oak is, both in 

 theory and in fact, greatly superior to that grown slowly. In 

 the first of the foregoing tables the best in quality was from 

 Strathfieldsaye, and grew as much on an average as an inch in 

 diameter annually, and all those others which grew above four- 

 tenths in diameter were of good quality. On the other hand, 

 all the slowest-grown timber in both tables was bad or 

 indifferent. It is true that some of the Navy Oak of bad 

 quality was fast-grown-, as the French, Styrian, and Istrian; 

 but this may have been caused by soil or have been owing to 

 the species. There is reason to believe that some kinds of soil 

 will grow Oak fast without furnishing the matter required for 

 hardening the timber, and that some species common in the 

 South and East of Europe, particularly Q. pubescens, the 

 Downy Oak, are never of value as timber. The specimen of 



