390 MINOR PRODUCTS OF PHILIPPINE FORESTS 



Table 1. — Exports of sappamvood from the Philippines from 1912 to 1918. 



Year. 



Amount. 



Kilograms. 



1912 1.193,916 



1913 } 1.783,139 



1914-.. ' 971,524 



1915 1,790.832 



1916 2.272,004 



1917 1.399.260 



1918 — 819,720 



Value. 



Pesos. 

 23, 718 

 29, 252 

 18,788 

 36. 505 

 74,906 

 65,863 

 65,501 



Sappanwood is one of a number of woods belonging to the 

 genus Caesalpinia, which are grouped under the general term 

 Brazil-wood. True Brazil-wood is derived from Caesalpmia bra- 

 ziliensis, which is obtained exclusively from Brazil. 



Locally the dye from Caesalphiia sappaji is prepared by re- 

 moving the bark and white sapwood, cutting the heartwood into 

 small chips and then boiling these in water. 



According to Perkin and Everest * sappanwood from the Phil- 

 ippines is of inferior quality. These authors say: 



Some varieties of these woods were employed for dyeing purposes in 

 India long before the discovery of America, * * * 



Owing to the fugitive character of the colours yielded by Brazil-wood 

 it is now only employed to a somewhat limited extent. 



Dyeing Properties. — Before dyeing, the logs, as imported, are rasped to 

 a coarse powder, and this is then usually moistened with water and 

 allowed to ferment for some weeks. This operation is performed in 

 order to increase the colouring power of the wood, and there can be 

 little doubt that a considerable quantity of the brazilin present is thereby 

 oxidized to the colouring matter brazilein. It has been considered by some 

 that fresh wood contains in reality a glucoside of brazilin, which, under 

 the influence of fermentation, is hydrolyzed, but no evidence has been 

 forthcoming in support of this suggestion. 



Although still used in calico printing and in wool dyeing, Brazil-wood 

 and its allies have lost their importance, chieflly because of the fugitive 

 character of the colours they yield. In calico printing, sappan liquor is 

 employed for producing steam reds and pinks, the mordant used being 

 aluminium acetate or stannic oxalate, separately or combined, together 

 with some oxidising agent, e. g. potassium chlorate or a copper salt. 

 It also enters into the composition of steam chocolates and certain steam 

 colours in conjunction with other dyewood extracts. These woods have 

 also been much used in the past along with garancine in dyeing the reds, 

 chocolates, and other colours of cheap prints. 



In wool dyeing these woods have been applied for the purpose of dye- 

 ing reds and various shades of claret and brown, the wool being previously 



- * Perkin, A. G., and Everest, A. E., The natural organic coloring 

 matters (1918), pages 345,. 346, 362. 



