TIMBERS AND WOODS 295 



fans, and for various other ornamental purposes. Sandalwood 

 chests are greatly prized on account of their reputed immunity 

 to insect attacks, and also on account of their aromatic and 

 agreeable odor. Sandalwood is also used as a source of san- 

 dalwood oil (which is discussed under oils) and is burned for 

 incense. For this purpose it is ground and mixed in a paste- 

 like material used by the Chinese in the form of fumigating 

 sticks. Various species of trees have been used as substitutes 

 for the sandalwood, particularly Exocarpus latifolia in the 

 Philippines, Erythroxylon monogymnum in India, and Xime- 

 nia americana in South America. 



Koa {Acacia koa), of Hawaii, is a tall leguminous tree with 

 spreading crown and irregular, frequently conical trunk. The 

 trunk of the koa tree is often 6 to 8 feet in diameter at the 

 base but may taper rapidly to a relatively small diameter at 

 the height of 20 feet. Koa is much sought for use in making 

 furniture, cabinet cases, house finishing, canes, fancy boxes, 

 and calabashes. It is exported to some extent to England 

 and the United States but the trees are becoming scarce and 

 the supply will hereafter be greatly limited unless efforts are 

 made to cultivate the tree. 



Satinwood (Chloroxylon swietenia) is a tree native to India 

 and Ceylon, which furnishes a hard, very heavy, and durable 

 wood of a pale yellow color, and with a decided sheen when 

 smoothed. Satinwood is much used for general construction 

 work and even for railroad ties in India. In Europe and the 

 United States, however, satinwood is much sought for inlay- 

 ing, borders, scrolls, backs of brushes, veneer in fine furniture 

 and railway cars, and for similar uses. Another form of sat- 

 inwood is obtained in the West Indies from species of 

 Xanthoxylum. 



West Indian cedar (Cedrela odorata), of the West Indies 

 and South America, is a tall, handsome tree of the family 

 Meliaceae, with pinnate, opposite leaves and greenish-white 

 flowers. The wood is of a brick red, blood red, or purple- 



