LIST OF WOODS. 221 



are not required of all woods, hut only of new, little known, or 

 valuable species. It would be a waste of time, labour, and ex- 

 pense to have specimens in these forms sent from every district 

 of the Tamarind, the Mango, or other such trees of common oc- 

 currence everywhere ; but new species, or those little known or 

 little used, should be thus sent, and then all that is required can, 

 once for all, be ascertained with certainty and precision.* 



GENERAL INFORMATION. 



I. The uses to which the several parts of the tree is applied, 

 and those for which experienced natives consider it especially 

 adapted. 



II. Its distribution in the district ; the localities where the 

 best is procurable, with the nature of the subsoil ; the distance 

 from the nearest seaport or town of any size; whether water 

 carriage is available. 



III. The extent of supply; whether this is increasing by self- 

 sown seedlings or fresh plantations, &c, or decreasing; the aver- 

 age size in height and circumference of the mature tree ; its 

 character, whether straight or crooked ; the average length, &c, 

 of the logs or planks ; the time required for seasoning, and the 

 amount of seasoned timber generally procurable. 



IV. The age at which the tree reaches maturity, i.e. when 

 increasing age brings no further increase of diameter. This is a 

 point of great importance, though hitherto quite neglected in this 

 country, for on it depends the relative value of trees for planting. 

 Thus, supposing there are two species of trees, of equal value as 

 regards timber, &c, but one attains maturity in 25, while the 

 other requires 35 years, it is obvious that the first is much the 

 more valuable of the two, its money value being realized 10 

 years sooner. The jury would remark, that in every case the 

 information given should be precise. If any doubt attaches to 

 any point, let that be fairly stated ; for it is undeniable that much 

 of the confusion now existing owes its origin to doubtful infor- 

 mation being given without any indication of its real value, and 

 being too readily assumed to be an ascertained fact ; whereas, 



* For additional remarks on these points consult directions issued by the 

 Smithsonian Institution, and introdnced at the close of the Jury Eeports. 



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