CATALOGUE OF THE TIMBERS OF THE WORLD 39 



and sometimes a little more, many of the butts being fluted ; it converts 

 into sound, clean pieces of good lengths. It is favourably reported on 

 for many purposes for which other boxwoods are used, but it causes some 

 trouble to those who work it. Either the dust or some other objectionable 

 quality in it inflames the nose and eyes, and causes feverish symptoms. 

 The workmen seem to recover quickly and are not attacked a second time, 

 although there is always a certain tendency to inflammation of the eyes. 

 In growth and characteristics it resembles the West Indian boxwood, 

 except that the medullary rays are straight and not wavy. 



Boxwood, West Indian. Tecoma pentaphylla, Juss. Weight, 59 lbs. 

 I oz. West Indies, Venezuela, Brazil. 



The colour of the wood is yeUowish-white, rather brighter than that 

 of the Turkish or British. The grain is close, firm, and smooth. It is a 

 beautifully grown wood, often attaining the height of 70 feet, practically 

 free from a single knot throughout its length. At the extreme top the 

 tree brtmches out into a tuft of foliage. Large supplies are available 

 within easy reach of the shipping ports. It is generally shipped cut into 

 lengths of 7 feet or 2 metres and from about 6 to 14 inches in diameter, 

 while occasionally there are larger pieces. This variety of boxwood is 

 the only one for which the world's demand is increasing. In France and 

 Germany, besides other uses, it is extensively employed for making small 

 combs. In this country it is used for inlay work and banding in cabinets, 

 and for marquetry ; for handles of aU kinds of tools, for brush backs, 

 mathematical instruments and rules, barometer backs, and many kinds of 

 turned work, but it is not sufficiently strong and tough to be satisfactory 

 for shuttles. It is sometimes stained and used for black wood, for which 

 it is very satisfactory. A very large quantity was consiuned during the 

 war for making " punners " or ramming rods for loading high-explosive 

 shells, for which work it possessed the necessary tensile strength to make 

 it very satisfactory. 



It is liable to become rather discoloured or blue-stained if kept long 

 in the log. It should be stored, as close piled as possible, in a place that 

 is not too airy and is entirely shielded from aU wind and sun, preferably 

 belov/ the level of the ground and in a slightly damp position, as it is very 

 liable to crack and split. It should never be removed from one position 

 to another while seasoning if this can be avoided. 



The pores are exceedingly small and ill-defined, the growth being very 

 dense. The medullary rays are very fine, close, and parallel, but wavy 

 and ribbed. 



BraunaParda. Melanoxylon brauna. Weight, 66 lbs. (Beterden). Brazil. 

 According to Brazilian Woods this is " An excellent wood for props and 



