98 THE TIMBERS OF THE WORLD 



timber is now so highly valued in Japan for the finest buildings, as well 

 as for interior work . . . and Sargent says that the palaces of the Mikado, 

 as well as the temples, are built of it. ... A large slab 3 feet across, 

 brought to England by Elwes, which had been cut from a burr of this 

 tree . . . was quite free from flaws, sound to the centre, and showed a 

 very twisted and wavy grain ; in colour resembling satinwood. . . . 

 Hinoki is one of the five royal trees which were reserved for Imperial 

 and rehgious uses in ancient times." 



The annual rings, wMch are exceedingly close, are clearly marked by 

 a strong dark layer. The pores and medullary rays are not distinguish- 

 able under the lens (12 x). 



Holly. Ilex aquifolium, Linn. Weight, 47 lbs. (Baterden). Europe. 



The wood, which is white to grey in shade, is exceedingly close- 

 grained in texture, and capable of a very smooth and hard surface. 

 Generally the degree of whiteness, on the excellence of which its value 

 rests, depends, as in many other cases of white wood, upon the time when 

 it is feUed, the manner of its conversion, and the care with which the 

 converted parts are preserved. It should be converted immediately 

 after the tree is felled, and the produce very carefully stored and stacked 

 under cover in a moderately dry and sunless place. 



Holly is chiefly valued for inlay work. Holtzapffel says : " Holly 

 is the whitest and most costly of those woods used by the Tunbridge- 

 ware manufacturer, who employs it for a variety of his best works, 

 especially those which are to be painted in water-colours. It is closer 

 in texture than any other of our English woods, and does not readily 

 absorb foreign matters, for which reason it is used for painted screens, etc." 



The beautiful ItaUan sixteenth-century walnut coffer, of which mention 

 is made in the section on walnut, is inlaid with holly, which gives a very 

 fine contrasting effect. 



Gibson quotes the American varieties for much the same purposes. 

 Ilex opaca, which would appear to be the principal one, and also /. cassine, 

 I. vomitoria, I. monticola, and /. decidua. 



The pores, which are exceedingly small, are very regular. The very 

 clearly marked medullary rays are parallel and equidistant. They are 

 very distinct on aU surfaces but show most strongly on the tangential 

 section, where they are exceedingly regular in their marking. 



Hopea parviflora, Bedd. Weight, 60 lbs. India. 



This wood is sometimes kno\vn as the ironwood of Malabar. It is 

 the produce of the irumbogam tree. The wood is of a rather bright 

 reddish-brown colour, with a hard, close, firm texture ; it is capable of 



