XXIV.] GREENHEART. 273 



The case was no doubt exceptional, as the worm is 

 very seldom seen in this wood. 



Greenheart is extensively employed in ship-building 

 for keelsons, engine-bearers, beams, shelf-pieces, &c., and 

 for planking. It is also used for piles, and many other 

 purposes, but its application to the domestic arts is some- 

 what limited by its great weight. 



The strength of this wood exceeds that of most 

 others, whether it be tried by the transverse or tensile 

 strain, or by a crushing force in the direction of its fibres. 

 Tried by the latter process, it exhibits a peculiarity 

 unshared, I believe, by any other timber except Sabicu. 

 It bears the addition of weight after weight without 

 showing any signs of yielding ; and, when the crushing 

 force is obtained, it gives way suddenly and completely, 

 with a loud report, nothing being left of the pieces but 

 a loose mass of shapeless fibres. 



The Greenheart timber is not usually hewn in the 

 perfect manner that Teak, Mahogany, and many other 

 woods are when prepared for shipment to the markets 

 of this country, but comes from Demerara only partially 

 dressed, a great' deal of wane being left upon the angles. 

 The butts are also almost invariably left with the snapped 

 ends, as prepared for drawing out of the forest, instead 

 of being cut off square. Its form should therefore be 

 considered with the price quoted per load, as it will not 

 compare favourably with well-squared timber. 



