THE TIMBERS OF COMMERCE 



English market " (59). I question this latter statement as it is 

 not of equal quality to European Spruce, but it should replace it 

 in Australia and at the Cape of Good Hope. " Dries light, shrinks 

 laterally, does not last more than 3 years in the ground " (24). 

 Saws as easily as American White Pine : planes smoothly but 

 being brittle is inclined to crumble. 



Authorities. Laslett (60), p. 434. T. Kirk (59), p. 462. Kew 

 Cat. Conif (58), p. 23. Perceval (91), p. 53. Collins (24). 



Colour. Quite uniform, pure white or yellowish-white : yellow 

 in the Transverse section. "Sap-wood large in proportion to the 

 Heart" (91). 



Anatomical Characters. Transverse section : — 



Pores or resin ducts absent. 



Rays. Just visible on account of their white appearance in 

 the solid wood : size 5 : 8-10 per mm. : gently undulating : 

 large ones rare if any. 



Rings. Perceptible, very little contrast between one zone 

 and another : the Autumn ? zone generally a band : contour gently 

 undulating. 



Ground-tissue. Very coarse in radial rows of cells, which are 

 not sharply separated from each other. 



Radial Section. The rays show up well by contrast of lustre 

 (not of colour) with the ground-tissue. Rings clear or only just 

 perceptible. 



Tangential Section. As the Radial, the rays are scarcely 

 visible but they are deep, about 1 mm. high : the rings are a 

 little more easily traceable. There are also a number of lines 

 in this section of the nature of which I am doubtful. 



Type specimens authenticated by the Forest Officer to the 

 Government of New Zealand. 



No. 220. MIRO. Podocarpus ferruginea. G. Benn. 



Plate XVI. Fig. 140. 



Natural Order. Coniferse. 



Source of Supply. New Zealand only. 



Alternative Names. Black Pine (60). Bastard Black Pine (12). 

 Miro toromiro (91). 



Physical Characters, etc. Recorded dry-weight 41J-52 lbs. 

 per cu. ft. Hardness Grade 7, compare English Beech. No 

 smell or taste. Burns well with a long, quiet flame and little 

 aroma : embers glow in still air. Solution pinkish unchanged 

 by potash or slightly darkened only : no ppt. 



Grain. " Straight and even, compact " (91) : fine. Surface 

 very dull except in Radial section, where it is a little brighter. 



Bark. Brown, £-£ inch thick, hard, smooth though uneven 



250 



