Page:Timber and Timber Trees, Native and Foreign.djvu/124

104 the branches, or from the spurs of the roots, which are often very large.

The wood is of a pale reddish-brown colour, straightgrained, moderately hard and compact, tough, strong, and of fair durability. Being remarkable for its elasticity, 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 shipbuilding 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.