CHAPTER XVI. 



EUROPEAN TIMBERS — (Continued). 



RIGA OAK [Quercus). 



This Oak, like the preceding, takes its name from the 

 port of shipment, and is the produce of a tree found 

 some distance in the interior of Russia, whence it is 

 brought by the river Diina to Riga. Its dimensions 

 are only moderate, and, as it is far from being abundant, 

 very little ever reaches this country, except in the form 

 of wainscot logs. 



It is characteristic of this Oak timber, that the 

 medullary rays are very numerous and more distinctly 

 marked than is the case with the Dantzic Oak ; but, 

 otherwise, the wood is in colour, texture, fineness of 

 grain, and general appearance, very much the same, 

 as is also its strength and specific gravity. There is no 

 reason, therefore, to doubt its fitness for employment 

 in civil architecture, or for general purposes, but it 

 is chiefly shipped to this country to meet the demand 

 for ornamental work, and for the manufacture of 

 furniture. 



To prepare it for the London market, the butt 

 lengths of the tree are slightly hewn upon two opposite 



