SHIP TIMBER 
<65 
And as the sap or embryo wood would not only be rendered On the dura- 
useful, but the timber fit for immediate conversion, it would an . d 
furnish the means to do away the waste of timber and loss of timberfor* 1 ° 
time and money that take place in what is termed seasoning, navaI ?< ° n * 
particularly in his Majesty’s dock-yards,* either when a ship is stiuctlous * 
framed, 
the ash can be reduced to that of the Russian fir as 774 to 548, and 
the strength of the ash increasing in the ratio to the Russian fir as 
1365 to 656, it follows that a prepared mast of the best English ash of 
only half the size would be stronger and lighter than one made of 
Russian fir, and the advantages over American spars would be still 
greater. 
* As the Norway maple admits of such great increase in strength 
and duration, and will succeed in exposed marine situations where 
no other trees will, it deserves particular attention. 
$ British larch, although a tree of rapid growth upon a sterile 
soil, is, from a large portion of parenchyma substance, weaker and 
heavier in its natural state than the Riga or even American fir ; yet it 
may be rendered superior for spars, or any other purpose for which 
foreign deal is importedj[. 
§ Malabar teak used in ship-building may be said to undergo a kind 
of preparation, as at Beypour I found the weight of a very fine young 
teak, when cut down with the bark on, to be equal to 6Ubs. per cubic 
foot ; wheu the timber of similar trees decorticated for two, three, and 
sometimes four years before felled, was only 44lbs. per cubic foot, 
which operation is performed by the natives, in order to reduce the 
specific gravity for the purpose of more readily floating the trees down 
the river, but it also diminishes the strength, although it increases the 
duration. 
l{ By papers presented to Parliament it appears that the expenditure 
of foreign spars for masts, &c. for the Navy, from the 15th of May, 
1804 to the 15th May, 1805, was £7,069 ; since which period the con- 
sumption is increased : and the sad instance of the Guerriere’s main- 
mast going by the board, without being struck by a single shot, and to 
which the unfortunate capture of that fine frigate by the American 
frigate Constitution* was attributed, is a proof that the quality of masts 
and (I can speak with deep regret) yards, t is not improved any more 
than hull timber. 
* For the comparative force of English and American frigates, 
see the Precursor, &c. just published. 
t The main-yard of the Raven broke in the slings, or the vessel would 
not have been wrecked. 
*1 have tried eighteen different methods of preparing and seasoning 
timber, and with only one exception, found the mode or rather the 
iiustop 
