LIST OF WOODS. 245 



abad, and Pondicherry. There are also smaller collections from 

 Utakamand, Bellary, Burma, and Masulipatam. 



Malabar. — The collection of specimens from Malabar, ex- 

 hibited by the collector of that district, merits special notice for 

 the care with which the specimens have been prepared, and for 

 the extent and importance of the contribution. It consists of 

 specimens of 60 varieties of timber, two samples of each kind, the 

 one being a piece of about 2£ feet in length, with a section of 

 3 inches square, as suggested by the jury of the last exhibition ; 

 the other being a complete slab, 4 or 5 inches thick, cut across 

 the trunk, and including the bark. By far the greater part of 

 this collection was represented in the Exhibition of 1855, and 

 the woods then described seem not to require notice here. The 

 following woods, of which specimens are found in this collection, 

 appear, however, to be worthy of attention : — 



1. Ven (or ben) teak, Lagerstromia microcarpa.— This wood is 

 abundant in the district of Malabar. It is not generally con- 

 sidered durable when exposed to the vicissitudes of temperature 

 and climate. It has however been used to a considerable extent 

 of late in ship- building at Cochin, and on the railway. (Malabar, 

 Palghat.) 



2. Puvu, Schleiehera trijuga. — This wood is described by 

 Wight, " List of Timber Trees" (80), as a strong, hard, red wood, 

 generally rather small, used to make pestles, spokes for bandy 

 wheels, and such purposes,* where much strength in small space 

 is required. (Palghat, Malabar.) 



3. Agilla, supposed by some to be the Indian cedar-wood. j - 

 Aquilaria agallocha ? — This is a light-coloured wood, with a fine 

 even grain ; appears admirably adapted for furniture, and many 

 domestic purposes. It is said to be abundant in Malabar, and 

 has been used for a variety of purposes by the railway engineers. 

 The jury recommend further inquiry regarding this tree, the 

 extent to which it is found in Malabar, and whether known 

 in other parts of the country. (Madura, Malabar, Mysore.) 



* Screw rollers for sugar mills, cotton presses, &c. (" Gibson's Handbook," 

 p. 34.) Kusum, Dak. Shaguda, Can. — H. 0. 

 t This is probably Chickrassia tdbularia. — H. C. 



t2 



