BUILDING, CABINET-MAKING, ETC. 357 



BauhinJa parviflora (Tree). — The wood is fine and closely grained, 

 and, though somewhat hard and heavy, is easy to work. 



Bauhinia purpurea (Tree).— A large tree 6 to 7 metres high. The 

 wood is fine and closely grained, rosy-white in colour, turning brown 

 on exposure to the atmosphere. It is hard, durable, and is used for 

 carpentry and joinery when large enough; otherwise it is used for 

 agricultural implements. A native of the East Indies. 



Bauhinia reticulata (Shrub).— This plant is frequently met with in 

 Senegal. The wood, though of rather small dimensions, may be used 

 for cabinet-making, joinery, and carriage building. It is hard, 

 durable, and easy to work. A native of Senegal. 



Bauhinia rufescens (Shrub). — The wood is used for joinery. 



Bauhinia variegata (Tree). — The greyish-brown wood is used simi- 

 larly to that of the preceding species. 



Berlinia acuminata (Tree).— A tree reaching a height of 15 to 

 20 metres, usually very slender. Yields a white building timber, used 

 by the natives for making canoes, drums, &c., joinery, cabinet-making, 

 carving, turning (Autran). 



Berlinia sp. (Tree). — A large straight tree, common in Senegal and 

 the Soudan, which grows to a small extent in all soils. The height 

 may be as much as 15 metres, with a diameter of go cm. Its wood 

 is easy to work, but is subject to attacks by grubs and ants; it is 

 good for cabinet-making, carpentry, carriage building, ship-building 

 (planks and frame timbers). Weight of i cubic metre is 726 kilos 

 (Constancia). 



Bowdichia virgilioides (Tree). — A Brazilian building wood of 

 excellent quality known as siiciifira -parda. 



Bowdichia major (Tree). — A very hard wood, used in Brazil for 



making press-axles, mill-wheels, and other articles subject to consider- 

 able and continuous strain. 



Cassia fistula (Tree). — This is a light wood of small size and a 

 coarse grain ; the colour is reddish or brick-red and darker towards 

 the centre. It blackens in the air and is not durable. It is easy to 

 work, and is used for the handles of tools, &c. It is an excellent 

 firewood. 



Cassia fastigiata (Tree). — This species of Cassia gives a durable 

 wood with a fine, close grain. 



Cassia marginata (Shrub). — Gives a very hard wood of pale-brown 

 colour. It is solid and durable. It is used in India in the manu- 

 facture of w^heel-axles, tool-handles, &c. 



Cassia siamea (Tree). — A tree of average size occurring in India, 



where the wood is used to make tool-handles, batons, mallets, &c. 



