126 TIMBER 



when exposed to the sun. The ants only attack the bark, 

 and this should be stripped off the logs before they are 

 stored. There are three varieties of this timber, red, 

 white, and black, but the red is considered the best. Logs 

 up to 50 ft. in length and 2 to 3 f-t. square can be 

 obtained. From this tree is extracted by the bleeding 

 process the well-known Balata, much used in the manu- 

 facture of machinery belting, and an extensive trade is 

 done with it in the colony. The bleeding process affects 

 the colour and texture of the wood for a while. It is a 

 similar wood in texture, weight, and colour to the Melkhout 

 of South Africa. There is another timber called balata 

 found in French Guiana, of a yellowish colour, hard, 

 heavy, and strong, very suitable for furniture. 

 Weight about 65 Ibs. per cubic foot. 



Towaronero or Bastard Bullet Tree (Humirium floribundum) 

 produces timber with dense close grain and a resemblance 

 to that of the bullet tree, and by some is considered superior 

 to greenheart where small timber is required. Logs 90 ft. 

 long and 20 inches square can be got free of sap. 



Wallafca (Eperna falcata) is a dark red wood saturated 

 with a sticky resin, much used for house frames, roof 

 shingles, posts, and palings ; stands exposure well in all 

 conditions, but is subject to attack by white ants. It has 

 been used largely of late years for telegraph and elec- 

 trical poles in Barbados and Trinidad. May be had in 

 logs 40 ft. long and 12 to 18 inches square. 



Weight about 65 Ibs. per cubic foot. 



Purple-heart (Copaifcra bracteata) is one of the tall 

 forest trees of British Guiana. The wood is of a purple 

 colour on all cut and exposed faces ; hard, durable, close 

 grained, and very tough, it makes handsome furniture and 



