284 T-IMBER AND TIMBER TREES. [chap. 



lengths of 3 to 6 feet. It is commonly sold by weight, 

 and realises from £6 to ;^i8 per ton, according to size 

 and quality. That from the city of St. Domingo is the 

 best. The specific gravity is 1248. 



ROSEWOOD [Triptoleinma). 



The name Rosewood is applied to very different 

 timbers in various parts of the world. West Indian 

 Rosewood, of the best kind, appears to be the timber of 

 Dalbergia nigra, but there is little doubt that several 

 allied species are thus denominated, e.g. Machcerium — the 

 lacarandas of Brazil. 



African Rosewood is Pterocarpus erinaceus, and in 

 India the wood o{ Dalbergia latifolia is thus named, as 

 in Burmah is that of Pterocarpus indicus. In Australia 

 species Qi Acacia, Dysoxylon, Eremophila and Synoum go 

 under this name, some of them, however, on account of 

 their scent, and not their resemblance to the cabinet- 

 makers' wood. Canary Rosewood is Rhodorhiza sco- 

 paria, and the Cordia Gerascanthus of Dominica receives 

 the name. Amyris balsamifera and others are also so 

 called in the West Indies. Further information as to 

 the Rosewood is much wanted. 



It is found in Jamaica, Honduras, Bahia, Rio, and 

 San Francisco. It attains large dimensions, but is often 

 faulty in the centre, owing to decay setting in long 

 before the tree reaches maturity. 



The wood is dark chestnut, or brown, in colour, 

 streaked or veined, and generally figured in the grain ; 

 it is hard and heavy, but in the hands of the cabinet 

 and pianoforte makers it works up well ; it is highly 

 valuable for all kinds of ornamental work, and for many 

 purposes in the domestic arts. It takes a good polish. 



