1886.] BOXWOOD AND ITS SUBSTITUTES. 623 



7. JEuonymiis Sieboldianus, Blume. — A Chinese tree, where the 

 wood, which is known as Pai'cha, is used for carving and engraving. 

 Attention was first drawn to this wood by Mr. Jean Von Volxem, 

 in the^ Gard. Chron., April 20, 1878. In the Kew report 

 for 1878, p. 41, the following extract of a letter from Mr. W. 

 M. Cooper, Her Majesty's Consul at Ningpo, is given:— '-'The 

 wood in universal use for hook blocks, wood engravings, seals, 

 etc., is that of the pear tree, of which large quantities are grown 

 in Shangtung, and Slian-se especially. Pai'cha is sometimes used 

 as an indifferent substitute. Pai'cha is a very fine white wood, of 

 fine fibre, without apparent grains, and cuts easily ; is well suited 

 for carved frames, cabinets, caskets, etc., for which large quantities 

 are manufactured here for export. The tree itself resembles some- 

 what the Stillinrjia, but has a rougher bark, larger and thinner 

 leaves, which are serrated at the edge, more delicate twigs, and is 

 deciduous." In 1879, a block of this wood was received at Kew 

 from Mr. Cooper, a specimen of which was submitted to Mr. 

 Eobson J. Scott, of Whitefriars Street, to whom I am much in- 

 debted for reports on various occasions, and upon this wood Mr. 

 Scott reported as follows : — " The most striking quality I have 

 observed in this wood is its capacity for retaining water, and the 

 facility with which it surrenders it. This section [one prepared 

 and sent to the Kew Museum], which represents one-tenth of the 

 original piece, weighed 3 lbs. 4l ounces. At the end of 21 days 

 it had lost 1 lb. (!)^ ounces in an uuheated chamber. At the 

 end of another 14 days, in a much elevated temperature, it only lost 

 ^ ounce. In its present state of reduced bulk its weight is 1 lb. 

 10 ounces. It is not at all likely to supersede box, but it may 

 be fit for coarser work than that for which box is necessary." 

 Later on, in the Kew report for 1880, p. 51, Mr. Pt. D. Keene, an 

 engraver, to whom Mr. Scott submitted specimens of the wood for 

 trial, writes : " I like the wood very much, and prefer it to box in 

 some instances ; it is freer to work, and consequently quicker, and 

 its being uniform in colour and quality is a great advantage ; we 

 often have great difficulty in box in having to work from a hard 

 piece into a soft. I tliink it a very useful wood, especially for solid 

 bold work. I question if you could get so extreme a fine black line 

 as on box, but am sure there would be a large demand for it at a 

 moderate price." Eeferring to this letter, Mr. Scott remarks that the 

 writer does not intend it to be understood that Pai'cha is qualified 

 to supersede box, but for inferior subjects for which coarse brittle 

 box is used. Mr, Scott further says that of the woods he has tried 

 he prefers pear and hawthorn to Pai'cha. 



{To lie continued.) 



