364 LEGUMINOS^ YIELDING WOOD FOR 



It is an erect tree with an irregular summit, and the wood is very- 

 hard and close-grained. It is difficult to work when dry and is not 

 attacked by pests. 



The wood is suitable for cabinet-making, joinery, carpentry, coach- 

 building, ship-building, turned work, wooden tools, pestles, mortars, 

 boot-lasts, charcoal and piles for wharves. It hardens in water. 

 Weight of I cubic metre is Q50 kilos (Constancia). 



Acacia capensis (Tree). — This acacia occurs in many parts of 

 Africa and yields a wood which is good for joinery work. 



Acacia Catechu (Tree).— A thorny tree of medium size. The wood 

 is very hard, the sap-wood is yellowish-white in colour, and the heart- 

 wood light or dark-red. It is easy to work, takes a nice polish, and 

 is not attacked by white ants. It is also used in India for making 

 railway sleepers. 



Acacia decurrens (Tree).— A South Australian tree, the wood of 

 which is used for building and cabinet-making; sap-wood and heart- 

 wood reddish-brown. 



Acacia dealbata (Tree).— This is an Australian acacia, which has 

 spread to a certain extent to every portion of the globe. If less than 

 IS years old it is only suitable for firewood or for making charcoal. 

 After that time it yields light planks, which are pale-red in colour and 

 very durable. 



Acacia eburnea (Shrub).— A solid and durable wood of darkish 

 colour, which takes a fine polish. It is used in India for fuel. 



Acacia Farnesiana (Tree). — This tree does not grow to any great 

 size; the sap-wood is white, and the heart-wood irregularly red. The 

 wood is used to make wheels, springs, handles, spokes, axles, &c. 



Acacia ferruginea (Tree).— A large tree with a hard wood, the sap- 

 wood being yellowish and the heart-wood olive-brown. Used for 

 building, &c., in India. 



Acacia gracilis (Tree). — This species is recorded as being very 

 common in Senegal, with a wood suitable for cabinet-making. 



Acacia heterophylla (Tree). — A native of the Sandwich Isles. It is 

 known in Reunion as Tamarinier des hattts, and in Guadeloupe as 

 Wood tamarind or Mountain tamarind. When sufficiently large it 

 yields a speckled yellow wood which is used for building small water- 

 craft and also for coach-building. It may be sawn into planks. 

 Density, o'4o5 ; breaking strain, 562 kilos. 



Acacia Jurema (Tree). — K Brazilian building wood, called Jurema. 



Acacia laurifolia (Tree). — A tree 8 to 10 metres high by 40 to 

 50 cm. in diameter. The wood is brown and scarcely usable on 

 account of its lack of durability. It is said to give oft" a disagreeable 

 smell when it is burnt. 



