CHAPTER XIII. 
THE FRENCH OAK TREE (Quercus). 
THE Oak timber of the north-western provinces of 
France, and especially of Brittany and Normandy, so 
closely resembles British Oak timber in colour, quality; 
texture, and general characteristics, that a description 
of one will as nearly as possible serve for the other. 
It is, therefore, I think, fairly entitled to the first 
nofice after that which has been adopted as our 
standard. 
The French Government until quite recently claimed 
the right of first selection of this description of timber, 
and drew nearly all their supplies from the western 
districts, for the use of their own dockyards, the landed 
proprietors and merchants not being free to offer it 
on the market until the full requirements of the 
French navy were met. Consequently, but little, if 
any, of good quality was left for exportation after 
the demands of the private trade of that country were 
satisfied. 
