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Triew. At to the ravages of wood destroying animals, it bears a favour- 

 able comparison with most other woods. It is on« of the few kinds that 

 the white ants will generally leave unmolested The essential oil with 

 which it is impregnated probably checks their ravages, as they have 

 been known to eat it when old and after prolonged exposure to air. 

 Teak and greenheart are the only known woods used in shipbuilding 

 that are said to be proof against the attack of the Limnoria terebrans, a 

 marine insect, which resembles very much in appearance a very small 

 woodlouse, and causes much damage to many timbers, which in course 

 of time, assume the appearance of honeycomb. Sometimes, howeve , 

 teak is attacked by marine worms — probably the Teredo tiaralis, the 

 most common enemy of wood used in submarine work. Notwithstand- 

 ing this, one of the greatest advantages of teak for shipbuildii g is it* 

 unshrinkable nature. When once seasoned, it does not crack or alter 

 its shape, and this quality is of the giea'est value, considering the va- 

 rious conditions of exposure to which a ship is often subjected during 

 her voyages from one part of the globe to another ; perhaps, within a com- 

 paratively short period, enduring the heat of a tropical sun and the 

 coldness of a northern region. Another very valuable property pos- 

 sessed by teak is its preservability, as metal fastenings are prevented 

 from corroding by reason of its oily nature. There are but few other 

 timbers known possessing this quality, though many otherwise useful 

 woods contain acids which directly as si it corrosion. 



It has been long and often said that the supplies of teak are running 

 short, and we have been told that the forests will soon be exhausted; yet 

 the supply has been continued, owing to the discovery and working of pre- 

 viously unknown or neglected forests, and by the admirable administration 

 of the India Forest Department, by which the valuable woods have been 

 conserved and protected. It is a matter of great regret, considering the 

 importance of teak timber to England as a maritime nation, that the 

 preservation of the teak forests was so long disregarded. The whole < f 

 .British India, south of the Himalayan mountains is unrivalled for its 

 trees and other plants, and there can be no doubt when the anticipattd 

 timber famine takes place in Europe and America, the enormous sup- 

 plies of splendid timber which can be obtained from the forests of India 

 and Burmah will prove of immense financial value to the government 

 of India, and of vast utility to the inhabi ants of western countries. It 

 is said that timber is like other articles of commerce, it requires to be 

 well introduced to notice But just as " good wine needs no bus v >," so 

 do the woods of India require only to be known to rise at once in de- 

 mand. In noticing new distiicts. special mention must be made ot 

 Siam, Java, and the islands of the Indian seas, in some of which the teak 

 forests are comparatively little known. In Upper Siam, about the d6 - 

 trict known as Koman, on the left side of the Mekong, and extending 

 to the borders of Tonking, lie a series of hills and valleys clothed with 

 magnificent forests of teak and endless varieties of gum-yielding trees, 

 which would, if properly worked, be a source of enormous wealth. Not 

 only should the conservation, working and improvement of teak forests 

 be considered, but the raising of artificial plantations be undertaken 

 and there is much to be learnt in regard to the sowing and selection of 

 the seed. This subject also has received the attention of the authori- 

 ties, and the results so far have been satisfactory. 



