i6o THE TIMBERS OF THE WORLD 



the " iron-woods." It is of a warmer or colder brown colour that darkens 

 almost to blackness with age and exposure. The Borneo wood is one of 

 the most valuable in that island and has been imported into England 

 under the name of " Borneo teak " or " Borneo No. i teak," but it has 

 none of the qualities of teak, and on account of its heaviness did not 

 find favour as a substitute for that wood. The wood from New 

 Guinea (probably I. trijuga) imported into Germany was also recom- 

 mended as a substitute for teak. Mirabow takes a good polish and 

 has been extensively used in the Far East in the manufacture of 

 furniture ; one fine piece possessed by Dr. Hose in Borneo formed 

 the circular top of a dining table (8i feet in diameter, and 2i inches in 

 thickness) and had been hewn from the trunk, moulded, and completely 

 finished by natives solely with the aid of axes. Being very resistant 

 to decay and to the attacks of insects (including " worms "), the timber 

 has been successfully used in Borneo, etc., for constructional purposes 

 such as bridges, houses, and posts. 



In transverse section the wood shows many thin, sharp, light con- 

 centric lines dividing it into concentric zones which are of very uneven 

 widths. The same section also reveals numerous light dots, evenly 

 scattered ; each dot has a light-coloured fringe and includes one or more 

 pores, which are mostly visible to the naked eye. The coarse vessels 

 (pores) contain substance that is sulphur-yellow or glistening red to 

 reddish -black. The light-coloured medullary rays are fine and numerous. 



MiRO. Podocarpus ferruginea, Don. Weight, 46 lbs. (Baterden). 

 New Zealand. 



The wood varies from light to dark brown in colour, is close in grain, 

 moderately hard and heavy, planes up well, and takes a good polish. 

 Some logs are nicely figured ; it is, therefore, very suitable for cabinet- 

 makers' work. It would also be useful for the turner, and for any 

 ornamental work, and as it yields timber 10 to 18 inches square, and 

 20 to 30 feet in length, it would doubtless be fit for civil architecture. 



MoERi. Weight, 51 lbs. East Africa. 



This timber has not yet been imported commercially into the United 

 Kingdom, but in common with other East African timbers it is now being 

 exploited with energy, and the next few years will probably see a con- 

 siderable development in export business. The colour is light brick-red, 

 the wood taking only a comparatively smooth surface from the tool. 

 It is of a hard nature and inclined to warp a little. 



The pores are regular in both size and position, and are often seen 

 in twin and triple formation. The medullary rays are parallel, often 

 exceedingly close together, and comparatively strong. 



