io8 
TIMBER AND TIMBER TREES. [chap. 
THE BALTIMORE OAK TREE ( Quercus ), 
so called from the shipments being made chiefly from 
Baltimore, is a perfectly straight timber, and is brought 
to us in lengths varying from 25 to 40 feet, the squares, 
or sidings, being from 11 to 20 inches. 
The wood is of a reddish-brown colour, somewhat 
darker than the White Oak, and less hard and horny in 
texture; it is moderately strong, and the quality fair. 
It might be used with advantage for many minor fit¬ 
ments in ships, and for general purposes in carpentry, as 
it is easy to work, and stands well after seasoning. It is 
not, however, recommended for use where great strength 
is required, as, when thoroughly dry, it is scarcely so 
strong as the best Fir or Pine. 
The Baltimore Oak tree is of very slow growth (vide 
Table II., p. 17), and the timber would soon decay unless 
well protected by paint or varnish after seasoning. 
Table XLL— American (or Baltimore) Oak. 
Transverse Experiments. 
Number 
of the 
specimen. 
Deflections. 
Total 
weight 
required 
to break 
each 
piece. 
Specific 
gravity. 
Weight 
reduced 
to 
specific 
gravity 
1000. 
Weight 
required 
to break 
1 square 
inch. 
With the 
apparatus 
weighing 
390 lbs. 
After the 
weight 
was 
removed. 
At _ 
the crisis 
of 
breaking. 
Inches. 
Inch. 
Inches. 
lbs. 
lbs. 
I 
I-2S 
•OO 
5 '°o 
651 
820 
794 
162-23 
2 
1-25 
•15 
7 ' 5 ° 
837 
695 
1200 
209-25 
3 
1 '35 
•25 
8-25 
769 
738 
1042 
192-25 
4 
1-50 
•15 
7-15 
729 
736 
990 
182-25 
5 
1 '85 
•25 
7‘6 5 
627 
734 
854 
i 5 6 ’75 
6 
1-65 
•35 
7-25 
723 
758 
967 
180-75 
Total . 
8-85 
I 15 
42 - 8o 
4336 
4481 
5847 
1084-00 
Average 
1 '475 
•191 
7-133 
722 '66 
746-83 
974-5 
180 - 66 
Remarks. —Nos. i, 3, and 6 broke quite short; 2, 4, and 5 with a scarph-like fracture, 
• about 8 inches in length. 
