CHAPTER XIII. 



EUROPEAN TlMBT^iLS— (Continued) . 



FRENCH OAK {Quevcus Robur). 



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 

 notice after that which has been adopted as our 

 standard. 



The French Government formerly 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. 



The first sample shipped to the London market 

 after the relaxation, of the French laws bearing upon 

 it (about the year i860) enabled the British Government 

 to give it a trial in ship-building ; and as this proved 



