CATALOGUE OF THE TIMBERS OF THE WORLD 299 



Turpentine. Syncarpia leptopetala, F. v. M. Weight, 60 lbs. 10 oz. 

 Australia. 



This wood has a very dense, hard, compact texture. It is of a Hght- 

 red, plum colour, with lighter and darker marking, very similar to English 

 cherry. It is exceedingly difficult to season, and dries with an irregular 

 surface. It is very rarely seen in England, and is therefore Httle used. 



Turpentine shows on the face a very finely marked medullary ray, 

 as in beech, but much smaller and finer. The section end shows numerous 

 pores evenly distributed, and almost entirely fiUed with a whitish gum ; 

 the medullary rays are hardly visible. 



Vera- WOOD. South America (Maracaibo). 



This timber was first imported about fifteen to twenty years ago 

 (1919). It has been tried as a substitute for lignum vitae, and while it 

 was found serviceable for some of the purposes for which that wood 

 is used, it cannot be said to be so in all cases. 



ViNHATico. Echirospermum Balthazarii, Fr. Allem. Weight, 42-52 lbs. 

 Brazil. 



This wood, which Baterden describes as yellow or reddish-yellow, 

 with a light open grain, is, according to Brazilian Woods, " excellent for 

 joinery and also sought after for cabinet-making. The trunk . , . 

 attains an enormous thickness, 2 to 3 metres in diameter." 



Vitex glabrata, Br. Weight, 40 lbs. India, Burma. 



This hard, greyish-coloured wood has a beautiful satiny lustre. It 

 is fairly durable, and is used in Burma for cart shafts, axles, wheels and 

 oars, but is quite suitable for furniture, for which purpose, if it were 

 better known, it would be much in demand. It yields squares 30 feet 

 X 12 inches x 12 inches. 



Vitex Leucoxylon, Linn. f. Weight, 40 lbs. (Troup). India. 



This is a very nice wood, of a greyish-brown colour, and a regular, 

 even, and close grain. Its colour and qualities would make it much 

 appreciated for highly artistic and decorative furniture and trimming 

 if supplies were assured and the wood became known. 



The pores are small and regular. The medullary rays are broad and 

 conspicuous, showing in very small flecks of silver grain. 



Vitex puhescens, Vahl. Weight, 54 lbs. India, Burma, the Andaman 

 Islands. 



This hard-textured wood is of a warm oHve-brown colour ; it has a 

 close, compact grain, and is capable of a very smooth surface. The 



