11 
Messrs. Henry Howell & Co., who first brought the stick to our 
notice, write as to its introduction to commerce :— 
180, Old Street, London, E.C., 
June 25, 1889. 
DEAR SIR, 
IN reply to your enquiry respecting the Brazilian oak, it is 
somewhat difficult to fix upon the exact date of its first introduc- 
tion to this market as a walking stick, but it is as nearly as possible 
14 years since our attention was first directed to it, and since that 
time we have used a very large quantity ; in fact it is now one of 
our staple woods for walking sticks and umbrella handles. At 
first its place of origin was unknown to us, but as it had the 
appearance of a vine and was reputed to come from the East, it 
was introduced under the name of “Ceylon vine.” 
‘We are much interested and pleased that your efforts to ascertain 
its scientific name and true home have been successful ; it will be 
« welcome addition to the valuable list of plants used in our 
manufactures which you have already published (Journal of the 
Society of Arts, Vol. XXXVL., pp. 1036, 1109, 1122, 1887-88), and 
which we have reason to believe will have an excellent effect in 
stimulating an interest in the raw producis of our Colonies and 
oreign countries which can be used in our business, and so 
enlarging the base upon which we depend for our supplies of 
natural woods for walking sticks and umbrella handles. 
We are, &¢., 
(Signed) HENRY HOWELL & Co. 
John R. Jackson, Esq. 
VI.—ZAPATERO, OR WEST INDIAN BOXWOOD. 
(Tabebuia [Tecoma] pentaphylla, Bth. and Hook. f.) 
Till recent years the increased demand for boxwood (Buxus 
sempervirens) for the preparation of wood blocks for engraving 
led to the fear that the supply would fail. Many of the old 
forests in the Caucasus have become exhausted, and the concessions 
granted by the Russian Government to cut wood have been more 
than once withheld. Persian box also, for the same reasons, 
became scarce. 
ar. pu 
Journal of the Society of Arts for April 10th and 17th, 1885 
(pp. 466-600). One of the woods that came nearest to true 
xwood in colour and general appearance was that of Tabebuta 
pentaphylla, Benth. and Hook. f. [Tecoma pentaphylla, D.C.]. 
It is a moderate-sized tree of Jamaica, Antigua, Montserrat, 
St. Lucia, Cuba, Panama, é&c., and the wood is compact and very 
