THE TIMBERS OF COMMERCE 



Grain. Fine, compact and even. Surface slightly lustrous. 



Uses, etc. Unrecorded. Saws very hard and planes badly. 

 My specimen was shattered by cracks when received. As other 

 species prepared and kept under identical conditions were sound, 

 it may be presumed that this wood is difficult to season. 



Autliorities. Nordlinger (86), vol. 7, p. 79. 



Colour. Uniform, light mahogany-coloured heart-wood fairly 

 defined from the brownish-white sap-wood which is about 

 J-A inch wide. " Yellowish-red " (86). 



Anatomical characters. As Xylosma monospora but widely 

 different in appearance, and with the following variations : — 

 , Pores. Visible, size 3-4 : 30-50 per sq. mm. : no two-rowed 

 groups. 



Rays. Just visible, size 5 : the difference in size between the 

 " middles " and " ends " not so considerable as in Xylosma. 

 The former 2-5 per mm., or both together 8-12 per mm. 



Ground-tissue. Very coarse. 



Soft-tissue. Narrowly encircling the pores. 



Radial Section. Pores, fine scratches, scarcely visible. Rays, 

 inconspicuous but pretty brown flakes. Rings, scarcely dis- 

 cernible. 



Tangential Section. As the Radial, but the rays need lens and 

 are fine, brown, spindle-shaped bodies of coarse texture, and 

 about 1 mm. high. Rings scarcely perceptible, but there may 

 occasionally be seen a zone of slightly denser wood. 



Type specimen authenticated by the Forest Officer to the 

 Government of Natal. 



No. 4. BOGABOG-U-VETO. Xylosma monospora. 



Harv. 



Plate I. Fig. 4. 



Natural Order. Bixinsee. 



Source of Supply. South Africa, Natal. 



Physical Characters, etc. Recorded dry-weight, 35*lbs. per 

 cu. ft. Hardness Grade 8, compare White Pine. Smell, none 

 when dry. Taste astringent. Burns well with a peculiar aroma 

 embers glow brightly in still air. Solution brownish, deepening 

 upon the addition of potash. 



Grain. Fine but open. Surface, scarcely bright and of a 

 coarse texture. 



Bark. Greenish-brown, about J inch thick, wrinkled con- 

 sisting of a soft, spongy layer, covered by a thin, shiny skin 



Uses, etc. Unrecorded. Saws very easily but with a woolly 

 surface. Retains its moisture for a long time, judging by the 



4 



