CHAPTER XVI.
THE RIGA OAK TREE (Quercus).
This Oak, like the preceding, takes its name from the port of shipment, and is the produce of a tree found some distance in the interior of Russia, whence it is brought by the River Düna to Riga. Its dimensions are only moderate, and, as it is far from being abundant, very little ever reaches this country, except in the form of wainscot logs, of which there were imported into the London market, 20,500 pieces in 1874, 9,400 in 1873, 8,100 in 1872, 7,700 in 1871, and about 10,400 in the previous year.
It is characteristic of this Oak timber, that the medullary rays are very numerous and more distinctly marked than is the case with the Dantzic Oak; but, otherwise, the wood is in colour, texture, fineness of grain, and general appearance, very much the same, as is also its strength and specific gravity. There is no reason, therefore, to doubt its fitness for employment in civil architecture, or for general purposes, but it is chiefly shipped to this country to meet the demand for ornamental work, and for the manufacture of furniture.
To prepare it for the London market, the butt
