122 



, 



naves of wagons, staves, railway sleepers, and various other purposes ; withstands exposure- 

 to the weather, but not durable in contact with the ground, unless impregnated with 

 antiseptic substances. 



The wood is harder and finer grained than that of Outeniqua Yellowood, and more 

 suitable for furniture, but one is not readily known from the other. It is stronger 

 than Baltic Fir, and takes creosote better than any resinous kind of pinewood. 

 Yellowwood of both kinds is very suitable for the manufacture of railway sleepers, and at 

 Knysna over 100,000 are cut and creosoted annually ; it yields excellent flooring boards, 

 wearing much better than pine, makes capital ceilings, takes a handsome polish, and is 

 otherwise vastly superior to deal in strength and appearance. One of the objections that 

 workmen have against its use is that it splits readily and requires to be bored for nailing. 

 Split into staves, it is used for the manufacture of vats, tubs, and small casks. Yellow- 

 wood requires much care in seasoning to prevent splitting and decay, and should be- 

 seasoned in the shade, or cut up soon after felling. 



The growth averages 0*72 inches in girth a year in the natural forest at Knysna, 

 and 0'48 inches in the poorer portions ; in plantations in Natal it reaches an average of 

 1*18 inches. 



There are two varieties of P. Thunbergii ; var. falcata, which preponderates in 

 Natal, has long sickle-shaped leaves; while in var. latifolia, which is that found in Knysna 

 the leaves are shorter and quite straight, but the young plants of both varieties are very 

 alike, and the barks do not differ. 



P. falcata, R. Brown, is a synonym of var. falcata, and P. latifolia, B. Brown, of 

 var. latifolia. 



166. RED IVORY. 



Kafir ; um-Nini. 



A small tree found in the Coast region. Bark light brown, thick, rough. Wood 

 extremely heavy and hard, very strong, not very elastic, close grained and compact ;. 

 annual rings obscure ; medullary rays very fine and close ; pores small, distributed singly 

 or in short radial lines ; colour light coral red, the thin sapwood nearly white ; takes a 

 handsome polish and is prized for fancy work and turner's work. 



167. BITTER ALMOND. 



Kafir : Dumizulu* 



A large tree found in the forests of the North and South Drakensberg. Bark 

 brown, thick, rugged. Wood heavy and hard, strong, moderately elastic, close grained ; 

 medullary rays moderately fine and distant ; pores small, disposed chiefly in short radial 

 lines ; colour red brown ; used for felloes and other wagonwood. 



