178 VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES. 



not to be able to tell with precision where those 

 materials are naturally produced, and what species of 

 trees produce them, with which the useful arts have 

 surrounded our every-day life. 



Beef-wood, principally used in forming borders to 

 work in which the larger woods are employed, is 

 intensely hard and extremely heavy. Its colour is 

 of a pale red, not so clouded as mahogany. The 

 timber arrives in this country in logs of about nine 

 feet long by thirteen or fourteen inches wide. The 

 tree which produces it is not known in botanical 

 description, but it is a native of New Holland. 



Tulip-wood would appear to be the produce of a 

 tree little exceeding the character of a shrub, for it 

 arrives here in sticks of about five inches diameter, 

 seldom more than four feet in length. It is very 

 hard, and of a clouded red and yellow colour. Its 

 principal use is in bordering; though it is employed 

 in smaller articles, such as caddies and ladies' work- 

 tables. 



Zebra-wood is the produce of a large tree, and 

 we receive it in logs of two feet wide. It is a cheap 

 wood, and is employed in large work, as tables. 

 The colour is somewhat gaudy, being composed of 

 brown on a white ground, clouded with black, and 

 each strongly contrasted, as its name imports, de- 

 rived, as it is, from the colours of the zebra. 



Coromandd-wood is used in large works, like zebra 

 and rose wood. It is inferior to rose-wood in the 

 brilliancy and division of its colours, having a dingy 

 ground, and sometimes running into white streaks. 

 The tree which produces it is of a large size. 



Satin-wood is well known for its brilliant yellow 

 colour, with delicate glowing shades. It is now not 

 much used in cabinet-work. The timber arrives 

 here in logs of two feet wide, and seven or eight 

 feet long. 



