164 TIMBEE 



the north-east of India. In some places, i.e., in the gorges 

 at the foot of the Nepal Tera hills, the sal attains a height 

 of 100 to 150 ft. with a clear stem of 60 to 80 ft. to the 

 first branch and a diameter of 6 to 8 ft. ; such dimensions 

 are, however, exceptional, and as a rule the height is 60 to 

 80 ft. with 30 to 40 ft. clear stem, and 2 to 2^ ft. diameter. 

 The logs are almost straight without any knots, flaws, or 

 cracks, but the wood dries so slowly that it continues to 

 shrink sometimes for years after other classes of wood 

 have become quite dry. Small scantlings and planks are 

 very liable to warp and split in drying, but the wood is 

 remarkably fibrous and cross grained. Superior to almost 

 all Indian woods for strength, it is well adapted for 

 engineering purposes such as bridges, etc., and for house 

 and ship building and for gun carriages. It is also very 

 much used for railway sleepers, and their life is from 

 eighteen to twenty years. The timber varies in colour 

 from light to dark mahogany colour, possesses great stiffness 

 and durability, and is the best building timber in Northern 

 India. The annual rings are only noticeable on freshly- 

 cut wood. It is classed with greenheart, mora, and a few 

 other timbers in Lloyd's List. 



Weight about 55 Ibs. per cubic foot. 



Toon (Cedrela toona) is a true cedar and akin to the red 

 cedar of New South Wales and Queensland. When freshly 

 felled it resembles ash, and becomes darker with age until 

 it resembles mahogany in colour. Does not split or warp, 

 it is durable, scented, easily worked, and is the best of the 

 Chittagong woods of commerce. Toon makes excellent 

 tables, chairs, and bookcases, frames and furniture of all 

 sorts, and is also used for doors and windows, but not for 

 beams and joists of roofs, as it is not strong enough, 

 and is, moreover, costly. It is a close-grained timber, 



