1847.] Report on the Timber Trees of Bengal. 1097 



tance in the jungle. I have seen excellent fishing rods made out of 

 it, and good-sized timher could be at times procured. I believe the 

 timber to be excellent, but, as according to our present information, it 

 grows at such a long distance from water carriage, except by the Ner- 

 budda, it cannot be looked upon as likely to be of much consequence in 

 commerce. I imagine from observation the tree to be of slow growth, 

 and that it would require 30 years to come to perfection, if it should 

 be thought desirable to encourage its cultivation on the low hills which 

 approach the Ganges. There is no good specimen of the wood in the 

 collection of the Horticultural Society, and it would be very desirable 

 to procure one. 



4. and 5. There are two other woods of this family produced in 

 Goalpara, Chikaghumbaree, — Premna hircina, and Bukdholt, 

 Premna Jlavescens, — which from Mr. Kyd's experiments would appear 

 to be very durable woods, but are not I believe, possessed of any other 

 valuable properties. 



6. Sa'l — Vateria robusta, W. and A. — Shorea robusta, Uoxb. — N. F. 

 Dipterocarpece. — I believe I am right in saying that every tree belonging 

 to this family is a valuable one, most probably, from all containing a 

 considerable quantity of a resinous juice, which is called in the various 

 trees, Dammar, Wood-oil, Gum Anime, Piney varnish, Ral, Bhoona, &c. 

 These trees are all fine ones, and in the forests of Malabar attain a 

 stupendous height. In the Ghauts of Cong and the Neelgherries one 

 kind is generally known to Europeans as the Buttress tree, and from 

 growing within a short distance of the sea, with water carriage from 

 the foot of the mountains by the Calicut River, thus offers a supply of 

 the most valuable timber for some time to come. The Sal itself, is 

 probably the best timber in India. Of 10 experiments of Capt. Baker, 

 the mean weight required to break the wood was 1238 ibs., and one 

 specimen required 1304. The tree is found in great abundance in the 

 Murung forests and in the whole belt of forest at the foot of the Hima- 

 layas, frequently growing, as the Teak does, over a great extent of ground 

 unaccompanied by any other tree. The Calcutta market is abundantly 

 supplied with the timber, principally I believe from Gorrukpore. It is 

 undoubtedly a very valuable wood for house building, and for many 

 parts of gun carriages, and indeed for almost all purposes on shore, where 

 very strong tough wood is required. It is heavy, the specific gravity 



7 c 2 



