2^o 



TIMBER AND TIMBER TREES. 



[chap. 



Table CIX. 

 Vertical or Crushing Strain on cubes of 2 inches. 



The specific gravity of well-seasoned Cuba Cedar 

 is about 439. The specific gravities of moderately- 

 seasoned Cuba, Mexican, and Honduras Cedars are 

 respectively 564, 640, and 664. 



GREEN HEART {Nectandra Rodicei). 



This tree, belonging to the natural order Lauracece, 

 is found in Guiana, in the north-eastern portion of South 

 America, and in the West Indies, and is an exceedingly 

 valuable timber of perfectly straight growth, of from 24 

 to so feet in length, and 12 to 24 inches square. 



Dr. Rodie detected in the bark of this tree an 

 alkaloid called Bebeerine, which is used by the inhabi- 

 tants of British Guiana as a remedy for fevers ; and it 

 is said, that when used as a substitute for quinine, it does 

 not produce the headache and other symptoms found to 

 follow the use of that medicine. 



The wood is of a dark greenish or chestnut colour, 

 the centre part being often nearly black ; it, however, 

 varies slightly, and the darker kinds are considered the 

 best in quality. It is clean and straight in the grain, 

 very hard and heavy, tough, strong, and elastic. In a 

 transverse section it resembles a cane in being very full 



