210 THE TIMBERS OF THE WORLD 



grain. It attains large dimensions, and is fit for employment in architec- 

 ture, for furniture, and generally in the domestic arts. The tree is of 

 straight growth, is stronger than teak {Tectona grandis), agrees well with 

 iron, and is very durable. Brazilian ironclads are built with it. Its 

 specific gravity is about the same as that of pitch pine. This is a 

 valuable timber which should find many important uses. 



The pores are very numerous and small. The meduUary rays are 

 exceedingly small and fine, but clearly marked. 



Peroba-Rosa. Aspidosperma Peroha, Fr. Allem. Weight, 59 lbs. 

 Brazil. 



This wood is of a pale rose colour with some darker streaks. It has 

 a very hard, firm, close-grained texture. In appearance it much resembles 

 the East African pencil cedar, but is very much harder. It is capable of 

 a smooth surface from the tool. It is reported as being largely used in 

 Brazil for sleepers, and also for furniture and floorings. It is possible 

 that it might be well adapted for pencil-making. 



The pores are exceedingly small and are scarcely discernible. The 

 medullary rays are very fine and slight. 



Persimmon-wood. Diospyros virginiana, Linn. Weight, 49 lbs. 

 (Gibson). North America. 



This is the ebony of America. Gibson describes it thus : " The wood 

 is hard, strong and compact, and is susceptible of a high polish. . . . The 

 value of persimmon depends largely on the proportion of sap-wood to 

 heart-wood. That was the case formerly more than it is now ; for until 

 recent years the heart-wood of persimmon was generally thrown away, 

 and the sap-wood only was wanted ; but demand for the heart has recently 

 increased. The demand for persimmon in a serious way began with its 

 use as shuttles in textile factories. Weavers had made shuttles of it for 

 home use on hand looms for many years before the demand came for 

 power looms. . . . Persimmon-wood is suitable for shuttles because it 

 wears smooth, is hard, strong, tough, and of proper weight. Most woods 

 that have been tried for this article fail on account of splintering, splitting, 

 quickly working out, or wearing rough. The shuttle is not regarded as 

 satisfactory unless it stands 1000 hours of actual work. Some woods 

 which are satisfactory for many other purposes will not last one hour 

 as a shuttle." 



Its use in Great Britain for golf heads has been continually growing, 

 and it is hard to find a better, or even as good a wood for the purpose. 

 Very rarely a few pieces are found that have such a handsome marking 

 of light yellow, brown, and almost black streaks that the wood has been 



