timber as they do in oak (see p. 48). Reports vary, but it seems to be decided that the roof of Westminster Hall is of oak, and that of the circular part of the Temple Church of chestnut. Chestnut is largely used in cabinet work for the interior fittings of bureaux, writing cases, etc. Horse chestnut is a white, even, close-grained wood, which could not possibly be confounded with Spanish chestnut when the difference has been once pointed out. Horse chestnut is, however, often substituted for other white woods of close texture, such as lime, holly, and sycamore, and is the inferior material of these three woods. Horse chestnut warps and twists badly, and is liable to turn yellow. At the present time both woods are largely used in fretwork. Spanish chestnut was
Fig. 175.—Owner's Mark on Teak.
formerly used in conjunction with, and also as a substitute for oak.
Teak.—This wood (Tectona grandis) is generally used in situations where red deal and other similar woods are liable to decay or to be destroyed by worms, but its cost prevents it from being used extensively for constructional work. In the construction of hothouses it would be a decided advantage to use teak for all the sills, and for any parts of the staging that are likely to be alternately wet and dry; or for any timbers that, through being in contact with the earth, are always wet; but it is doubtful whether the extra cost of teak would be repaid if it were used for all the woodwork of the house, such as bars, rails, mullions, etc. Teak is used principally for staircases and doors in public buildings. Being considered more fireproof than any other wood, its use is enforced by district surveyors under the Building Act. In special positions, such as those enumerated above, where it is not practicable to paint the woodwork, or where, as in the case of sills, the paint becomes worn off, the greasy nature of teak and the poisonous oil that it contains preserve the wood from decay, and enable it to withstand the attacks of the spores of dry-rot fungus, without any necessity for covering the surface with any protective coating of paint, varnish, etc. As the life of a piece of teak under such conditions would in all probability be three or four times that of northern pine, it may be inferred that the extra initial cost is compensated by the saving in repairs. Teak logs vary generally from 10 in. to 24 in. square, and 15 ft. to 40 ft. long. When first removed from the ship they are of a good cinnamon brown colour, but soon bleach in the sun, and might at first sight
Fig. 176.—Chalk Marks on Logs Showing Cubic Contents.
be mistaken for oak. They are stacked in piles according to the ownership, with the butt ends flush and the other ends irregular. A few business cards of the timber-broker's firm are generally nailed here and there. The balks are squared up fairly straight and true, but sometimes waney at top end, with heart out of centre owing to the tree having been bent during growth. The ends are stamped with the mark of the firm, often in two or three places, initial letters in a heart, as in Fig. 175, standing for Messrs. . Also with the number of the log, and alongside it a mark, thus *, or the word No. preceding the figures to show in which direction they should be read. The dimensions of the log are stamped in 1-in. figures, thus 193 x 22½ x 21 meaning 19 ft. 3 in; long by 22½ in. wide by 21 in. thick. The cubic contents are marked in red chalk, as in the strokes of Fig. 176. These are similar in composition to the quantity marks on Baltic timber; their value is shown added in
