216 Transactions of the Boyal Society of South Africa. 



dark brown to'^ards the centre, while the sapwpod, which is distinct and 

 sometimes an inch deep on a large tree, is nearly white. Eings irregular, 

 close, often distinctly marked, wavy in outline, 10-30 per inch in accordance 

 with habitat, some distinct and closer than others, all fairly straight or wavy, 

 and parallel in the longitudinal section, darker than the greyish-yellow 

 interspaces. Medullary rays almost imperceptible, very fine and close, 

 giving a minute satiny lustre. Pores very small, either separate or 3-6 in 

 line together." The Sneezewood is undoubtedly our most resistant timber, 

 and Hutching* classes it with Jarrah and G-reenheart as imperishable wood. 

 Fourcadet gives the properties of Sneezewood as : " Weight, 68 lb. per cubic 

 ft. ; relative hardness, 8 ; coefiicient of elasticity, 965 tons ; modulus of 

 rupture, 9-71 ; crushing load, 7'17 tons per sq. in." 



Prof. Unwin,:f who describes it as the strongest but also the heaviest of 

 Cape timbers submitted to him, found its properties : " Weight, per cubic 

 ft. 67'44 lbs. ; shearing stress, 0'490 tons ; crushing strength, 5-365 tons ; 

 coefiicient of elasticity, 983-7 t&ns per sq. in." 



It is as fencing-poles, gate-posts, and in the construction of harbour 

 works that this timber is most largely used. Hutchins states that used in 

 the marine works it has only once allowed the entrance of Teredo navalis, 

 and that under exceptional circumstances. This case is treated in a -paper 

 by Hemmersley-Heenen.g 



It is unfortunate that such a valuable timber should in the past have 

 been used as firewood or for purposes which could have been as well served 

 by a cheaper. Hutchins (op. cit.) mentions that in 1883 it was still sold for 

 firewood on the King Williamston market, and states that the burning of 

 it was like the burning of bank-notes. Even to-day there is a great deal 

 of injudicious cutting-out and destruction of this tree. 



The natives, in particular, fancy this tree for firewood, perhaps owing to 

 its being very inflammable and burning even when green, and they are ' 

 directly responsible for no small share of the destruction of this tree in the 

 past, and even, at present, when opportunity offers, do not hesitate to illicitly 

 fell and use these trees for firewood. 



The wood is extremely handsome and takes a fine polish, though its one 

 serious drawback is the fact that the dust from it produces sneezing (hence 

 the vernacular name) and running of the eyes. Another drawback, if such 

 it be, is its extreme hardness. 



Further references and remarks on the timber will be found in Sim's 

 work referred to and in reports of the Forestry Department. 



* Hutchins, Official Handboolc of the Cape, 1893, p. 133. 



t Fouroade, H. G., Report on Natal Forests, 1889, p. 133. 



X Unwin, Cape Agricultural Journal, 1 900, p. 605. 



5 Henimersley-Heenen, R. H., " A Short Account of the Attacks of the Teredo 

 navalis and Ohelura terebrans upon Greenheart (Nectandra Rodioei) and Sneezewood 

 (Ptaeroxylon utile) Timbers," Trans. S.A. Phil. Soc, vol. v, p. 313. 



