Page:Timber and Timber Trees, Native and Foreign.djvu/97

 CHAPTER XIII.

THE FRENCH OAK TREE (Quercus). Oak timber of the north-western provinces of France, and especially of Brittany and Normandy, so closely resembles British Oak timber in colour, quality, texture, and general characteristics, that a description of one will as nearly as possible serve for the other. It is, therefore, I think, fairly entitled to the first notice after that which has been adopted as our standard.

The French Government until quite recently claimed the right of first selection of this description of timber, and drew nearly all their supplies from the western districts, for the use of their own dockyards, the landed proprietors and merchants not being free to offer it on the market until the full requirements of the French navy were met. Consequently, but little, if any, of good quality was left for exportation after the demands of the private trade of that country were satisfied.