CATALOGUE OF THE TIMBERS OF THE WORLD 119 



carps is much confused, and it is probable that a common name is given 

 to timbers whose source is comprised of many varieties. It is a wood 

 which stands well, is of good quahty, and could be used in many important 

 industries. 



The pores are uniform and regular. The medullary rays are parallel, 

 but rather irregular. 



Laurel, Alexandrian. Calophyllum Inophyllum, Linn. Weight, 

 42 lbs. India, Burma, Ceylon. 



This is a dark, reddish-brown wood, with a handsome wavy grain. 

 Gamble notes that " the wood is said by Beddome to be ' valuable for 

 some purposes in shipbuilding,' and by Kurz to be ' good for masts, spars, 

 railway sleepers, machinery, etc. ... It is a magnificent wood for 

 cabinet-makers' work.' " Pearson writes : " The timber is cross-grained, 

 fairly durable, and very elastic, working to a smooth surface and taking 

 a good polish." 



This is one of the timbers mentioned by Gamble as being available 

 in fairly large quantities and likely to be worth trial. 



The pores are small, and irregular in disposition ; many are plugged. 

 The medullary rays are scarcely visible under the lens. The concentric 

 lines are dark and wavy in pattern. 



Leza Wood. Lagerstroemia tomentosa, Presl. Weight, 50 lbs. (Troup). 

 India, Burma. 



This wood is of a light grey-brown colour and a close, firm, but not 

 very hard texture, and it has a very straight grain, capable of a smooth 

 surface. 



The pores are regular and rather small, connected by a network of 

 short, fine, light concentric bands. The medullary rays are exceedingly 

 fine and numerous, parallel and equidistant, and show in a kind of fine 

 ripple-ray on the radial and tangential sections. 



Lignum Vitae. Guiacttm officinale, Linn., etc. Weight, 88 lbs. 9 oz. 

 The West Indies, Central America. 



The commercial supplies of lignum vitae are the produce of more 

 than one species. The best quahty, however, is shipped from San 

 Domingo. This is received in lengths of 12 to 18 feet and 8 to 12 inches 

 diameter. From Maracaibo it is imported in lengths of 5 to 12 feet, 

 and from 6 inches to 2 feet in diameter. This variety is very liable to 

 cup shakes. The wood is also imported from Cuba, Jamaica, and the 

 Bahamas. 



The Hgnum vitae received from this last source is that which contains 



