( 116 Select Plants for Industrial Culture 



Brandis 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, is easily worked, and takes a fine polish. It is also durable as 

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

 and is of quick growth. The supply of its wood has fallen short of 

 the demand in India. Colonel Campbell- Walker states, that in the 

 Pan jab artificial rearing of Sissoo is remunerative at only 15 inches 

 annual rainfall, with great heat in summer and occasional 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, Rumph. (D. orientalis, Lambert.) 



Agath-Dammar. Indian Archipelagus and mainland. A splendid 

 tree, up to 100 feet high, with a stem to 8 feet in diameter, straight 

 and branchless for two-thirds in length. It is of great importance on 

 account of its yield of the transparent Dammar-resin, extensively used 

 for varnish. 



Dammara Australia, Lambert.* 



Kauri-Pine. North-Island of New Zealand. This magnificent 

 tree measures, under favorable circumstances, 180 feet in height and 

 exceptionally 1 7 feet in diameter of stem ; the estimated but perhaps 

 overrated age of such a tree being 700 to 800 years. It furnishes an 

 excellent, remarkably durable timber, straight-grained, and much in 

 use for masts, boats, superior furniture, casks, rims of sieves, and is 

 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 timbers of the Conifers. Braces, stringers and 

 tie-beams of wharves remained, according to Professor Kirk, for very 

 many years in good order under much traffic. In bridge-building also 

 the Kauri-timber gave excellent results j it can likewise be used 

 advantageously for the sounding-boards of pianofortes. Kauri-wood 

 is also used for light handles of many implements and for various 

 instruments, including stethoscopes, for wool-presses, the bodywork 

 of waggons, butter-casks, brewers' vats; further, in ship-building for 

 bulwarks and for the sides of boats. In strength it is considerably 

 superior to Baltic Deal. Kauri ought to be extensively introduced 

 into our denser forests. Auckland alone exports about 20,000 

 worth of Kauri-timber annually. It is easily worked, and takes a 

 high polish. This tree yields besides the Kauri-resin of commerce, 

 which is also largely obtained from under the stem. The greatest 

 part is gathered by the Maoris in localities, formerly covered with 

 Kauri-forests; pieces weighing 100 Ibs. have been found in such 

 places. 



Dammara macrophylla, Lindley. 



Santa-Cruz Archipelagos. A beautiful tree, often 100 feet high, 

 resembling D. alba. 



