183 



No. 436. Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens, L.). A CASE 

 well-known evergreen tree of Europe, growing in some 103. 

 situations in Britain. Its dense, compact wood is 

 admirably suited for the use of wood-engravers, for 

 graduated scales, &c. Specimens of different qualities 

 of boxwood are shown from Persia, Trebizonde, Anatolia, 

 and of British growth ; also blocks prepared for wood 

 engraving, one upon which the drawing has been made 

 ready for engraving, and a finished engraved block, also 

 shuttles, walking sticks, rules, &c. Russia and Persia are 

 the principal sources of boxwood of commerce, but the 

 supplies of late years have been decreasing. A hard even- ^ 

 grained wood that would prove a perfect substitute for' 

 boxwood has yet to be discovered. ■ 



Observe a specimen of Cape Boxwood furnished by 

 Buxus Macowani, Oliv., a tree about 30 feet high, native 

 of South Africa. 



The remainder of this compartment contains various 

 Euphorbiaceous woods, mostly from the East. 



No. 437. Fruits of the Emblio Myrobalan CASE 

 (Phyllanthus Emblica, L.), a moderate-sized tree of the : 104, 

 Indian and Burmese forests. The fruits are edible, and 

 are used for preserves, in medicine, and for dyeing and . 

 tanning. The wood is durable, and is used for agriv: 

 cultural implements, buildings, furniture, &c. 



Observe fruits and wood of Otahbitb Goosebbrry> 

 (Phyllanthus distichus, Muell. Arg.), a deciduous tree of 

 the East Indies. The fruits are acid and astringent, and' 

 are used either in pickles, preserved with sugar, or in tarts. , 



On the lower shelf are specimens of bark of BiTTER' 

 Bark or " Quinine Tree " {Petalostigma quadriloculare^, 

 F. Muell.), introduced from Australia as a substitute foi? j 

 Cinchona. 



It also yields a brownish-yellow dye. The wood is^ 

 hard and fine-grained and useful for cabinet work. 1 



No. 438. African Oak or Teak {OldfieUia africana, 

 Bth, and Hook, f.), from Sierra Leone. A fine, close- 

 grained timber, formerly imported into this country for 

 shipbuilding. At the present day this timber is hardly ' 

 known in commerce. The " African Oak " now imported 

 is the produce of Lophira alata, ^See Case 21.] 



