Boxwoods of commerce* 
SAMUEL J. REcoRD 
(WITH ONE TEXT FIGURE) 
TURKISH BOXWOOD 
The original boxwood of commerce, commonly called Turkish 
boxwood, is supplied by Buxus sempervirens L. (Euphorbiaceae). 
This species (including closely related forms) has an extensive 
range throughout central and southern Europe, northern and 
western Asia, and northern Africa. It is a small tree at best and 
in parts of its range is reduced to a low shrub valued chiefly for 
ornamental purposes. The commercial range corresponds roughly 
to that of the Circassian or Persian walnut and the principal port 
of origin for wood shipments is Batum. 
The wood has been used and prized for many centuries. Its 
very fine and uniform texture, its light and yellowish color, the 
ease with which it can be shaped or carved in spite of its horn-like 
density and irregular grain,t together with its freedom from 
warping and splitting when finished, have combined to give to 
this wood a unique place in a specialized field. For the more 
exacting uses, such as fine engravings, there is no satisfactory 
substitute. 
The wood is not all of the same degree of excellence. The 
Abassian is considered the best on the American market, followed 
by the Anatolian and Persian in the order named. Most of the 
wood used by the Japanese is said to come from Siam and Burma. 
It is not so highly prized as the native wood (Buxus japonica 
Muell.), is considerably lighter in color, and the bitter taste is 
much less pronounced. The war stopped shipments of Turkish 
boxwood and they have not yet (1921) been resumed. 
SoutH AFRICAN BOXWOODS 
The growing scarcity of Turkish boxwood stimulated search 
for substitutes, and in 1885 the East London or Cape boxwood 
-—* Contribution from the Yale School of Forestry, No. 14. 
1 RS 3 is no . . . box so knotty that dipped in oil cannot be carved." John 
 Lyly: hoe me his ike’ p. 368. 
297 
