REcoRD: BoxwooDps OF COMMERCE 301 
high. Mr. Mell found it quite abundant in parts of Haiti, where 
it reaches the same dimensions and has the same habits as above 
mentioned. A common characteristic noted is the fluted trunk 
and the presence of abundant epiphytes on the branches. The 
wood is little used locally. The following is from his notes: 
the mountains around Puerto Plata in Santo Domingo. Only rarely is it found on 
the upper slopes and tops of the mountains. It appears to prefer the flat lands that 
are dry and rocky where it is often found growing thickly in pure forest. 
The crowns of the trees are so open that in the pure stands the sunlight reaches 
the ground and the trees are accordingly rather short boled. In mixture with other 
trees casting a denser shade the height is greater and occasional specimens may be 
seen that are 30 feet to the first large limb and as much as 18 inches in diameter 
breast high. Usually the trun! irreg itable for lumber. 
The leaves are small and not very numerous. Every tree, regardless of its site 
or associates, seems to be full of epiphytic plants which appear to interfere with its 
development 
ood is not esteemed very highly by the natives except for making fence 
posts and square timbers for buildings of all kinds. y the smaller sizes are used 
and the large trees do not seem to be cut for any purpose. 
The San Domingan boxwood is inferior to both of the woods 
from Venezuela. It is not suitable for engraving but makes 
satisfactory shuttles (its principal use at present) and a fair grade 
of rulers. It varies in color from very light to canary yellow or 
light brown. An interesting feature of its structure is the presence 
of calcium carbonate in a large proportion of the vessels, readily 
visible with the lens and sometimes without it. The effervescence 
resulting from the application of a drop of hydrochloric acid to 
the end of a specimen affords a very simple and reliable means of 
separating this wood from the others of the group. 
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Af. ¢ 
@iiu4 iCwW UL 
SoME OTHER WOODS CALLED BOXWOOD 
The flowering dogwood, Cornus florida L. (Cornaceae), is 
sometimes called American boxwood, presumably because of its 
use in the place of the true boxwood for shuttles. Since the color 
is reddish or greenish instead of yellowish and the rays are pro- 
nounced there is no occasion to confuse it with the other woods 
of the group. Schaefferia frutescens Jacq. (Celastraceae), a small 
tree of southern Florida and the West Indies, is sometimes known 
as boxwood but it does not enter the market. 
