28o TIMBER AND TIMBER TREES. [chap. 



The SabicLi has very little sap, and is a remarkably 

 solid wood. It is characteristic of it that there is an 

 almost complete absence of the heart, star, and cup- 

 shakes. It seasons slowly, shrinks but little, and does 

 not split, as do most other woods, while undergoing that 

 process. It also bears exposure to the weather without 

 being in any but the slightest degree affected, even if 

 left without either paint or varnish to protect it ; further, 

 it works up well, and there is only a trifling loss in its 

 conversion. Therefore, as this wood is known to be 

 durable, it has much to recommend it to the favourable 

 notice of the manufacturer. 



There is one defect, however, occasionally met with 

 in the Sabicu, which must be set against the good 

 qualities before mentioned, as it is more common to this 

 than to any other timber with which we are acquainted. 

 This is a cross fracture of a very remarkable kind, and 

 of the greatest importance, from the fact that it can rarely 

 be detected until the log is in process of conversion. It 

 is then sometimes found that the longitudinal fibres of 

 the early and middle period of the tree's existence are 

 completely broken, while the outer woody layers of both 

 the duramen and alburnum are perfect. This defect will 

 sometimes occur in several places in the same tree. 



It is difficult to conjecture the cause of this, since it 

 cannot, one would think, be done by the concussion in 

 the fall of the tree, as that would, if any injury were 

 done, produce a more extensive fracture than has been 

 noticed ; one which would be apparent upon a superficial 

 examination of the surface. I therefore incline to the 

 opinion that it is produced by the storms and hurricanes 

 that occasionally sweep over the island, swaying the 

 trees to and fro, and snapping the longitudinal fibres of 

 the stem, without breaking them completely off; the 



