802 



THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 



[May i, 1885. 



that even this splendid hardwood will not resist the 

 teredo of the Indian seas. In the Pacific the insects 

 may not be so plentiful or destructive, or a good 

 deal may depend on the age or seasoning of the 

 wood ; for conspicuous in the Melbourne Exhibition 

 of 1880-S1 was a magnificent slab of Western Aus- 

 tralian jarrah which was stated to have been taken 

 uninjured out of a jetty forty-two years old. No. 4, 

 Malay Tampinnis (Sloelia sidcroxylon) is described as 

 one of the highest qualities of wood obtainable in 

 the Straits. Amongst its good qualities is that of 

 effeatually resisting the attacks of white-ants. Mr. 

 Newton states :— 



As a wood for use in a tropical climate it cannot be 

 excelled, but it is now rare and difficult to obtain, and 

 even then is found to be far inferior to the old wood. 



There is ample evidence aud experience of the admir- 

 able qualities of this wood. Amongst which it may be 

 noticed that in opening up and repairing the roof of the 

 Town Hall, Singapore, in 1879, it was found that the 

 whole of the rafters, king posts, queen posts, struts, and 

 purlins were of Tampinnis. The cause which led to the 

 opening of the roof was the destruction of the tie beams, 

 which were of Kumpas, by white ants. Although these 

 were without exception completely ruined by the ravages 

 of that insect not one piece of Tampinnis was touched 

 and the whole of the timbers were used iu the con- 

 struction of the new roof. At the time the repairs were 

 made the Town Hall was about 20 years old. 



Another example of the remarkable durability of this 

 wood was revealed in the rebuilding of Crawford Bridge, 

 Singapore, when the old wooden structure was replaced 

 by au iron girder bridge supported on screw piles. On 

 removing the main timbers from the old bridge they 

 were almost all found to be Tampinnis, in excellent 

 condition. The bridge cannot have been less than 30 

 . years old. 



The wood is of rich brown colour and very close grained 

 it is lustrous when cut either across or with the grain. 

 It takes a splendid polish and when prepared in any 

 way for use strongly resembles Mahogany. 

 It is quite clear that in forestry operations in the 

 Straits (and in Ceylon also) special attention should 

 be devoted to the pi-opagation of this valuable tree. 

 Miraboo (Afzelia Palembanicu) is a fine furniture 

 wood. Billion, not botauically determined, found 

 in low swampy forests on the banks of rivers, is 

 described as the most lasting of all the Malayan 

 forest trees. It is difficult to work, except into 

 shingles, and is sometimes called ironwood : — 



And is greatly appreciated by the natives of Borneo, 

 who use it for piles and joists for their houses. Iu Singa- 

 pore this wood is generally used for the planking of 

 bridges, for landing places, and for posts and railings, 

 as it effectually resists the attacks of white ants, and 

 will bear exposure to the weather without deteriorating. 

 Mlrambong, not botanieally described, is used for 

 all engineering and building purposes. No. 8, Bin- 

 tanoobe or Poon [Calophyllum inophyllum) is well- 

 known in Ceylon, helonging to the gamboge family, 

 tliitt'fene. The tree is used extensively for Malay 

 house-building and for ships' spars Growing close 

 together iu jungles bordering the coast, the trees 

 grow branchless to a great height. The Kladano 

 (Artocarpiis specie*) may be identical with or very 

 closely allied to our Del. It is thus described : — 



This tree yields a fine light yellowish brown timber, 

 when fresh cut, which bends easily and is useful for 

 planking vessels as it stands well in water and is buoy- 

 ant. The trees grow to a height of CO or 70 feet and 

 diameter of 2 to 3 feet. It is used in Malacca for house- 

 building. The wood is close-grained aud takes a fine 

 polish, but turns dark coloured by exposure to the air. 

 KkanDIB {Dialuin indicum), is described as 



One of the hardest, heaviest and most lasting of all 

 the timber trees of the Malay forests. Like all hardwood 

 trees it is of slow growth. It has been in great demand 

 for many years past for export to China, but it is now 

 scarce and expensive, 



The) tree itself is tall aud handsome, and is frequently 

 to be seen growing to a height of 60 feet and a diam- 

 meter of 4 feet. It has no special locality, and is gener- 

 ally found in clumps. The Malays have given up felling 

 this and other hardwood trees to the Chinese who transport 

 it to the Singapore market in tongkangs. The fruit is 

 edible and the leaf small like the tamarind, to which tree 

 Kraugie is closely related. 



Krangie is referred to by Balfour who 6ays "This is a 

 handsome tree of slow growth but attains a great size. 

 It is not a tree common in forests, but is generally met 

 with in gardens, where it has been planted." The wood 

 is hard, dark coloured, durable and often finely veined. It 

 is used for furniture and building purposes. 

 Kumpas, not botanieally described, was in great 

 request until the ant-eaten timbers in the Singapore 

 Town Hall revealed its true character. Lampong 

 (Hedycarpus caulijlora), seems to be an impostor 

 like Seriah, but does not, like that tree, belong 



to the ErjTHORBIACEiE. 



Kuyu Klat is the Malay name;of Eugenia Zeylanica. 

 The Eugenia*, including the janibu, are very common 

 in Ceylon. Of this kind, it is said : — 



The wood is used for ordinary building purposes: It is 

 not very highly esteemed, but still is possessed of fair 

 average transverse strength. It is close-grained, durable, 

 and not much more difficult to work than darroo. 

 The mangroves of the Straits would seem to be more 

 useful than those of Ceylon, if we may judge from 

 Mr. Newton's account, under Bucco, Malay (Rhizo- 

 phora species) : — 



The so-called mangrove swamps which are found along 

 the shores of most tidal streams in the Malay Peninsula, are 

 composed of two or three different species, the chief of which 

 are, however, (Rhizophora mucronata,) (Rhizophora con- 

 jugata,) (Lumnitzera cocciuea) and Bruguiera species. 

 This most useful wood, which is always used iu the fotm 

 of piles, is abundant and easily procured. The mangrove 

 tree grows luxuriantly in all salt water or tidal creeks with 

 muddy banks. The piles can be obtained as large as thirty 

 feet in length and ten or eleven inches iu diameter. 

 They are used in almost all engineering or building operations 

 where it is necessary to make a pile foundation. 

 Damar Lant (Canarium species) is a family of 

 large resinous trees, which, abound in Ceylon as well 

 as the Straits. Mr. Newton states : — 



This is one of the Malayan forest trees, which is much ap- 

 preciated in Penang, where it is plentiful., and greatly 

 used in house-building. It is possessed of great trans- 

 verse strength and stiffness aud can be obtained in large 

 sizes. It is admirably suited for beams and joists. The 

 colour is light brown and the wood is very close grained 

 and lustrous. 

 Rassak ( Vatica species) : — 



This wood is obtained from the South East coast 

 of Sumatra and the neighbouring islands. Lately 

 very large quantities of it have been used in the construc- 

 tion of a new wharf for the Borneo Company, Limited, 

 in Singapore. It can be obtained iu lengths of from 50 

 to 60 feet and sometimes 2 feet square. 



By some Rassak is supposed to be the same wood as 

 Damar Laut, but undoubtedly differs from it, and approaches 

 more nearly to the Seriah iu natural affinity. The 

 specimens examined in the present series of experiments 

 did not resemble each other either in grain, colour, or 

 transverse strength, and Rassak is much darker coloured, 

 not so close-grained as Darmar Laut and inferior to it 

 in toughness and transverse strength. 

 Damar Putih is not scientifically identified, but 

 it ought to be looked out, for Mr. Newton states 

 distinctly that it is not attacked by sea-worms : — 



This wood is procured from the district near Langkat 

 in Sumatra. The tree grows to a height of about 150 

 feet and a diameter of from 4 to 5 feet. By some Damar 

 Putih is supposed to be the same as Ballow, aud it cert- 

 ainly strongly resembles it. It is of a light brown colour 

 aud close-grained and heavy, but not difficult to work. 

 It is well suited for piles as it is not attacked by sea 

 worms. Large quantities of this wood are now used in 

 Singapore instead of Ballow. 



