io 4 TIMBER AND TIMBER TREES. [chap. 
the branches, or from the spurs of the roots, which are 
often very large. 
The wood is of a pale reddish-brown colour, straight¬ 
grained, moderately hard and compact, tough, strong, 
and of fair durability. Being remarkable for its elas¬ 
ticity, planks cut from it may, when steamed, be bent 
into almost any form or curve, no matter how difficult, 
without danger of breaking or splintering them. This 
characteristic renders it especially valuable for ship¬ 
building purposes. 
This wood opens very sound; and as it shrinks but 
little, and almost without splitting, during the process 
of seasoning, there is nothing to prevent its extensive 
use in railway carriage-building, civil architecture, and 
generally in the domestic arts. I have known it to 
stand the test of many years’ exposure in the open 
without being more than very, slightly deteriorated 
thereby. It will therefore be safe to say that it is by 
far the best foreign Oak timber, of straight growth and 
large dimensions, for constructive purposes that has ever 
been imported. 
The American White Oak timber, introduced in 1861 
by Mr. Donald McKay, of Boston, U.S.A., was used in 
the royal dockyards as a substitute for British Oak, 
chiefly for beams, keelsons, and other works requiring 
large scantlings. At the moment of its introduction, 
however, the great change took place by which iron was 
substituted for wood in ship-building; consequently the 
demand for it fell, and, owing to the large stock of other 
woods at the time upon hand, it was difficult to employ 
it profitably. Ultimately it passed away in the repairs 
of ships and some minor services. Very little of this 
wood has ever been placed upon the London market for 
employment in the private trade. 
