96 SELECT PLANTS FOR INDUSTRIAL CULTURE 



Several Brazilian species of Machaerium afford, particularly M. 

 incorruptibile (Allem), M. legale, and M. Allemani (Benth.), 

 according to Saldanha da Gama, a similar precious wood; also 

 timber for water-works and railway sleepers. 



Dalbergia Sissoo, Roxburgh. 



The Indian Sissoo Tree, ascending to elevations of 5,000 feet, 

 attaining a height of 60 feet, It may be worthy of test 

 whether in localities free of frost, particularly along sandy river 

 banks, this important timber tree could be naturalised. Bran- 

 dis found the transverse strength of the wood greater than 

 that of teak and of sal ; it is very elastic, seasons well, does 

 not warp or split, and takes a fine polish. It is also durable 

 as a wood for boats. The tree is easily raised from seeds or 

 cuttings, *is of quick growth, and resists slight frosts. The 

 supply of its wood has fallen short of the demand in India. 

 Captain Campbell- Walker states that in the Pan jab artificial 

 rearing of Sissoo is remunerative at only 1 5 inches annual 

 rainfall, with great heat in summer and sharp frosts in winter ; 

 but irrigation is resorted to at an annual expense there of four 

 shillings per acre. Sterile land is by the Sissoo-planting greatly 

 ameliorated. 



Dammara alba, Humph. (D. orientals, Lamb.) 



Agath Dammar. Indian Archipelagos and mainland. A large 

 tree up to 100 feet high, with a stem of up to 8 feet in dia- 

 meter; straight and branchless for two-thirds its length. It 

 is of great importance on account of its yield of the transpa- 

 rent Dammar resin, extensively used for varnish. 



Dammara Australis, Lambert.* 



Kauri Pine. North island of New Zealand. This magnifi- 

 cent tree measures, under favourable circumstances, 180 feet 

 in height and 1 7 feet in diameter of stem ; the estimated age 

 of such a tree being 700 or 800 years. It furnishes an excel- 

 lent, remarkably durable timber, straight-grained, and much 

 in use for masts, boats, superior furniture, casks, rims of 

 sieves, and particularly sought for decks of ships, lasting for 

 the latter purpose twice as long as the deal of many other pines. 

 It is also available for railway break-blocks and for carriages, 

 and regarded as one of the most durable among timber of the 

 Coniferse. Braces, stringers, and tie-beams of wharves remain- 

 ed, according to Professor Kirk, for very many years in 

 good order under much traffic. In bridge-building the Kauri 

 timber gave also excellent results ; it can likewise be used 

 advantageously for railway sleepers. Kauri ought to be 



