CATALOGUE OF THE TIMBERS OF THE WORLD 249 



but the latter is much the better wood. The East Indian is obtainable 

 in larger widths and longer lengths, and there is a much greater prevalence 

 of figured wood ; and the cost also is less. The logs are very liable to 

 cup-shakes and gum rings, which show in the butt ends as a thin dark- 

 coloured line following the layer of annual growth, either partly or 

 completely round the tree. These dark gum streaks continue through 

 the log, and wherever they exist there is a liability, and in course of time 

 almost a certainty, that a crack will develop. The logs are also subject to 

 the borings of large grubs which leave holes of from J inch to as much as 

 I inch in size. These occur on the outside of the tree under the bark, 

 and extend from i to 3 inches into the log, and reduce the proportion of 



t w- ^M&S 





Photograph by C. R. Keen. 



East Indian Satinvvood Logs, Ceylon. 



convertible wood. It is exceptional to find a plain log, for nearly all yield 

 figured wood — from a simple light and dark coloured streak or stripe, 

 or a broken stripe or roe, to a light and dark coloured broken roe with 

 strong mottle. Some logs are full of brilliantly marked figure, generally 

 of small character. R. S. Troup in some private notes on satinwood, 

 C. Swieteiiia, says : " The trade in satinwood is not nearly so important 

 in India as in Ceylon. The tree is very common in parts of the Indian 

 peninsula, the largest out - turn being from the Godaveri district of 

 Madras ; apparently, however, it does not reach such large dimensions 

 as in Ceylon. According to Gamble the cause of ' figury ' wood has been 

 somewhat discussed. Mr. H. S. Hansard in Ceylon Forester (ii. 253) main- 

 tains that it is caused by irregular growth from the cambium ; Mr. 

 Armitage in the same paper, that it is caused by the irregular healing 



