66 THE TIMBERS OF THE WORLD 



and varieties, all of which have been described for commercial purposes 

 as ebony when first marketed, and as Coromandel wood when sold in the 

 converted form, either as boards or veneers. Of these the supplies from 

 Macassar have produced the largest sizes and the best colouring. 



Taking authentic specimens of three different sorts, (i) Macassar ; 

 (2) Diospyros Melanoxylon ; (3) D. Kurzii, the face appearance is so 

 similar that they might all have been taken from the same tree. The 

 Japanese variety D. Kaki is often very similar, but the marking is on a 

 smaller scale, and the light colouring is of a more yellow shade. There 

 is also a sHght difference between these three varieties in the transverse 

 grain. 



Macassar. — The pores are irregular in size and position, and are 

 often filled with a bright, shining gum. The medullary rays are very 

 indistinct ; they are exceedingly fine and are very irregular. 



Diospyros Melanoxylon.- — The pores, which are smaller, are also much 

 less frequent than in the Macassar wood. They are often filled with 

 shining specks of gimi ; the medullary rays are stronger and more clearly 

 defined. 



D. Kurzii.-^The pores are minute and very numerous, and the rays 

 very indistinct. 



Yet another source of supply of so-called Coromandel wood has been 

 found in some occasional trees of Ceylon ebony (probably D. Ebenmn, 

 q.v.), which show the same marking and colour. If, therefore, at some 

 much earlier date the name was applied to the produce of a distinct 

 variety, there is little doubt that it has now become the common term 

 for a particular form of marking and colour, which has been produced in 

 several different species of Diospyros. 



The wood is used for decorative furniture in various fashions. 

 Beautiful tables and cabinets, pianoforte-cases, small ornamental 

 boxes and jewel cases have been made with this wood, which has also 

 been used for shop-front decoration and fitments. In the Victoria and 

 Albert Museum at South Kensington, is a handsome armchair of Dutch 

 manufacture, dating from the early eighteenth centur}^, which is made of 

 walnut and Calamander wood. 



For description see Ebony, Diospyros. 



Cottonwood. Bomhax malaharicum, DC. Weight, 23 lbs. India, 

 Burma, Ceylon. 



Gamble describes this wood as " white when fresh cut ; turning dark 

 on exposure, very soft, perishable ; no heart-wood, no annual rings. . . . 

 The wood is not durable, except under water, when it lasts tolerably 

 well ; it is used for planking, packing-cases and tea-boxes, toys, fishing 

 floats, cofhns, and the linings of wells. If allowed to dry in the log the 



