370 EUPHORBIACE,E. [BuXHS. 



1$ to 2 inches in 20 to 25 years. An examination of the specimens received by us 

 shewed that the growth is extremely variable. We found 



H 990. 75 rings per inch of radius 

 H 424. 41 

 H 930. 40 



H 614. 30 



H 2914. 27 



H 165. 25 



H 38. 16 



H 77. 14 



Average of 8 specimens 33'5 rings per inch 



of radius. 



Weight, Brandis says, 60 to 65 Ibs. per cubic foot ; Mathieu, PI. For., p. 268, gives 56 to 

 72 Ibs. ; our specimens average 57 Ibs. 



The uses of boxwood are well known. In Europe it is used for engraving, turning, 

 carving and mathematical instruments. In the Himalaya small boxes to contain 

 butter, honey, tinder, snuff, &c., are made of it, and it is carved into combs. The 

 leaves are poisonous to cattle, only goats eat them sparingly with impunity ; they are 

 used in the south of France as manure for vineyards. The boxwood to be used for 

 engraving requires very careful and lengthened seasoning ; on this subject and on the 

 other requisite characters of boxwood for commercial purposes, the following extract 

 from a letter of Messrs. J. Gardner and Sons, of Liverpool, to the Inspector-General of 

 Forests, dated April 3rd, 1877,- will give information : 



" The value of boxwood at Bombay of suitable texture for the English market, of 

 which latter we can judge from a few sample pieces, will depend principally upon the 

 quality. 



" Wood from 2 to 4 inches diameter is required to be free from splits or cracks, other- 

 wise, however free from knots and straight and round it may be, the value would not 

 exceed 1 to 2 per ton, whilst if free from splits, round and straight and with 



not exceeding one knot per foot in length V fc va l ue would probably ( f J \% eT ton ' 

 exceeding 1 knot and not exceeding 2 knots [ ? *] 7-10*. 



2 knots 3 ) ( 5 



all knots or holes, counted as such, however small. 



" Wood 4 inches and upwards in diameter is preferred with one split rather than 

 sound or with more than one split, any splits after the first reducing the value on ac- 

 count of the additional waste in working the same. 



Averaging per foot in length. 

 1 knot. 2 knots. 3 knots. 







The value of round and") 4 to 5 inches diameter . . 6 4-10*. 3 



straight (1 split) aver- > 5 to 6 . 9 6 3 



aging. J 6 inches and upwards diameter . 12 9 4-10*. 



" If the splits are twisted more than 1 inch to the foot if small, 2 inches if medium 

 size, and 3 inches to the foot length if large, the value is reduced one-half. 



" The above values will, of course, vary in accordance with the supply and demand 

 for the various sizes and qualities. 



"The most suitable texture of wood will be found growing upon the sides of moun- 

 tains. If grown in the plains, the growth is usually too quick, and consequently the 

 grain is too coarse ; the wood of best texture being of slow growth and very fine in 

 the grain. 



" It should be cut down in the winter, and, if possible, stored at once in airy wooden 

 sheds, well protected from sun and rain, and not to have too much air through the 

 sides of the shed, more especially for the wood under 4 inches diameter. 



" The boxwood also must not be piled upon the ground, but be well skidded under, so 

 as to be kept quite free from the effects of any damp from the soil. 



" After the trees are cut down, the longer they are left exposed the more danger is 

 then- afterwards of the wood splitting more than is absolutely necessary during the 

 necessary seasoning before shipment to this country. 



''It' shipped green there is great danger of the wood sweating and becoming mil- 

 dewed during transit, which causes the wood ni'terwards to dry light, and of a defec- 

 tive colour, and in tart rendering it of little value for coniniereial purposes. 



" There is no occasion to strip the bark oil', or to put cowdung or anything else upon 

 ' r,f ill.' pieces ID prevent their splir 



