THE WORK OF THE FOREST DEPARTMENT IN INDIA. 26 



Pterocarpus macrocaryus, Kurz. Burma padauk. A large tree 

 scattered in the mixed forests in several parts of Burma from Bhamo to 

 Tenasserim. The wood is yellowish red to brick red, sometimes streaked 

 Tvdth brown, hard and very strong: although inferior to Andaman 

 padauk in colour it excels it in strength, and is perhaps the best wood 

 for ordnance work of various kinds, such as gun-carriage wheels and 

 many other purposes. In Burma it is extensively used for naves, 

 spokes and felloes of cart and carriage wheels, carriage-building, shafts 

 and other purpos.es for which strength is required. Fairly fully utilized 

 in accessible localities. 



Pterocarpus Marsupium, Eoxb. The gum-kino tree, bijasal. A 

 large tree of Central and Southern India, extending north to Oudh and 

 the Kumaun Bhabar. Wood yellowish brown with darker streaks, very 

 hard, durable, used for door and window frames, posts, beams, furniture, 

 agricultural implements, wheels, carts, boats, and many other purposes. 

 The wood when damp is apt to produce a yellow stain. The tree yields 

 a red astringent medical gum known as " kino " from wounds in the 

 bark. Fairly fully utilized where accessible. 



Pterocarpus santalinus, Linn. f. Red sanders. A small or moder- 

 ate sized tree occupying a limited region in the hills of the E. Deccan. 

 A valuable wood, dark purplish red, extremely hard, used for wheels, 

 shafts, agricultural implements, and particularly for carvings. Supply 

 limited. 



Quercus. The oaks. There are nearly 40 species of oak in India 

 and Burma, chiefly in the Himalaya, Khasia hills, Chittagong hills 

 and Burma. Several of these are of local importance, partly for build- 

 ing and other purposes but especially for fuel. None of them have as 

 j^et proved to be of any special value for export or for general use out- 

 side their immediate regions. Not fully utilized. Large quantities 

 available. 



Santalum album, Linn. Sandalwood. A small tree of the Indian 

 Peninsula from the Nasik and Nagar districts southwards, particularly in 

 Mysore, Coorg and some of the Madras districts — N. Coimbatore, N. 

 Arcot, N. Salem, Bellary and the Nilgiris. The heartwood is yellowish 

 brown, hard, very close-grained and strongly scented : it is used for 

 carving and fancy work of all kinds and is burned as incense, while 

 sandalwood oil is distilled from it. Volume for volume this is by far 

 ihe most valuable wood in India ; it is sold by weight, and every portion 

 of the tree which yields heartwood of any size is utilized, the heartwood 

 from the roots being the most valuable. Fully utilized. 



Shorea obtusa, Wall. Thitya (Burmese). A large tree eommoE„ 

 -chiefly in " indaing " forest, throughout Burma. Wood brown, very 

 hard and durable, used for house and bridge construction, piles, carts, 



