1\[TS0EE Ami COORG. 93 



means ef offsets from the root. In this way, a little 

 family of young trees will often be fpund around 

 the parent. Stony, gravelly and sandy soils are 

 the most suitable, but depth is required as the 

 tree forms ' a long tap-root. Growth is usually 

 rapid and the species coppices well. It is too valu- 

 able for fuel, otherwise it is admirably suited to 

 raise plantations on waste land for that purpose. 

 197 Dalbergia latifolia, Roxb. Ean. Bite, Beetee, Biti, 



Tliodagatti. 



Fig-- Wight Ic. 1. 1156. Bedel. Fl Syh. t. 24. 

 References.— Brand. For. Fl. 14S. Did. of E con. 

 Prod, of Ind. 



The blackwood or rosewood of Southern India. A 

 deciduous tree of the Mysore and Coorg forests, 

 where it attains a large size and affords timber of 

 the best quality. It is a reserved tree of the State 

 forests and therefore well Icnown to the oJ9ficials of 

 the forest department. Sapwood yellow, com- 

 paratively small ; heartwood p\irplish-black, heavy — 

 weighing 55 — 601b. per cubic foot — durable, close- 

 grained, but somewhat brittle. It is a vahiable wood 

 for all classes of furniture and cabinet work, and is 

 used in preference, when procurable, for railway 

 sleepers, 'gun-carriages, cart-wheels and knees of 

 vessels. But these demg,nds make it expensive, and 

 a single tree has been known to sell for lis 70, while 

 in the Coorg forests the Government rate is 5 to 6 

 annas a cubic foot. The timber is exported to 

 Europe from the Malabar forests vid western ports. 

 Coffee flourishes under the Bite, and some planters 

 maintain that the latter affords the best shade for 

 that important cultivation. Anderson mentions that 

 " chips are burnt in cressets by the natives at festi- 

 vals and give a splendid light." Eosewood inlaid- 

 work has become a local industry in the city of 

 Mysore under the auspices of His Highness the 

 Maharaja. 



