240 THE TIMBERS OF THE WORLD 



although perhaps an appreciation of the bleached wood is a matter of 

 opinion. 



Brazilian rosewood has been familiar as a decorative wood throughout 

 the last century. Its popularity probably commenced with the Empire 

 period, and in the early days of Queen Victoria's reign rosewood, used 

 both solid and in veneer, was employed in the best cabinet work. The 

 Bahia timber stood first for quality, while that from Rio, though less 

 well marked and figured, produced both larger and wider pieces free from 

 defect. 



It has remained in favour more in France and America than in the 

 United Kingdom. In the course of the last twenty j'ears the quality of the 

 shipments has greatly deteriorated, and a growing difficulty has been 

 experienced in obtaining good, sound wood of a sufficiently large size to 

 yield good veneer or panels. To this fact may be attributed some of its 

 waning popularity. The very agreeable aromatic scent of the wood is 

 well known. 



The pores are exceedingly irregular both in size and position. They 

 apparently vary both in numbers and size in the different concentric 

 layers. There are irregular belts of darker coloured lines of varying 

 widths which follow the concentric growth. The medullary rays are 

 exceedingly fine and numerous ; they are generally crossed at right angles 

 by somewhat similar fine white lines, thereby forming a network pattern. 

 The radial section presents an exceedingly fine ripple ray. 



Rosewood, East Indian. Dalbergia latifolia, Roxb. Weight, 53 lbs. 

 II oz. India. 



This wood, which is already well known in England, France, America, 

 and Germany, is probably not yet as sufficiently appreciated as its un- 

 doubted merits deserve. It is generally known as East Indian rosewood, 

 or as Malabar or Bombay rosewood, in contradistinction to the older 

 Bahia or Rio wood, which it very closely resembles. It is also occasion- 

 ally termed Bombay blackwood. The logs obtainable are, however, 

 larger and more free from defects than are the BraziUan, and are 

 consequently of more value. 



The colour is very variable, ranging from a hght red to a deep rich 

 purple, and streaked with every shade from golden yellow almost to 

 black. The texture is close and firm, but it is generally found with a 

 contrary hard and soft grain, which requires a sharp tool to obtain a 

 smooth surface. It is a good wood for turnery, and stands well under all 

 conditions. Gamble says that the chief use of the wood in India is for 

 furniture. Rosewood gives a very handsome appearance when used for 

 parquet floorings. In Europe and America it has been chiefly employed 

 in the pianoforte trade, both in soHd work and in veneer. The logs for 



