34 THE TIMBERS OF THE WORLD 



Earl's Court. It has been successfully used to make gun-stocks. It is. 

 moreover, a strong timber, and Mr. C. Lyne (Minister of Lands and Works) 

 wrote in 1903 : " Orders are now being supplied to the Admiralty for use 

 in the construction of gun-carriages in the arsenals, where it has been 

 tested and given satisfaction." It is not well known, and has not been 

 much used in the United Kingdom, where it might with advantage be 

 employed in decorative and cabinet work. 



The wood in cross-section shows alternating darker and lighter con- 

 centric bands, which may denote the presence of aimual rings ; the pores 

 themselves are invisible (though clear enough in side-view), but their 

 positions and scattered arrangement are revealed by reason of the light 

 haloes surrounding each tiny group ; the meduUary rays are invisible 

 and so fine as to be only just recognisable with the magnifying glass (12 x ). 



Boehmeria rugulosa, Wedd. Weight, 41 lbs. India. 



This timber is unknown in conunerce though possessing remarkable 

 qualities : it probably surpasses aU other woods for carved work. The 

 colour is a hght salmon-red darkening on exposure to the air to a dull 

 red mahogany shade. The sap-wood is an unsightly dirty brown. The 

 trees are liable to the attack of small worms or beetles, and also to a grub 

 which leaves a larger hole. The wood works easily, and the grain is 

 straight and takes a very smooth surface from the tool. Troup says 

 it is " apparently not to be obtained in large size . . . not common in 

 India, being found scattered in the Forests." Gamble mentions that 

 it is used for making bowls, cups, plates, and all kinds of domestic 

 utensils ... for which its character of being easily cut and carved 

 without splitting or warping, well adapts it." The Rajah of Nepaul 

 presented a marvellous piece of native carved work in this wood to 

 Mr. H. J. Elwes on his last visit to India. It would be greatly esteemed 

 by the artist craftsman for fine work if it became known and supphes 

 were available. 



The concentric layers are clearly marked. The pores are scattered 

 irregularly between the rays, mostly plugged with shining specks of sohd 

 substance. The numerous medullary rays are thick, parallel, but not 

 regular. 



Bomhax insigne. Wall. Weight, 31 lbs. Andaman Islands, India, Burma. 

 Like the well-known cotton tree, Bombax malabaricum, this yellowish- 

 white, soft, perishable, and non-durable timber is not likely to find much 

 use in Europe. It is used in India for cheap work such as planking and 

 packing-cases. In structure it is simDar to B. malabaricum, except that 

 the pores are smaller and leiss scanty. 



