1100 Report on the Timber Trees of Bengal. [Nov. 



cylindrical* If Sissoo was a more durable wood than it is supposed to 

 be, it would be the most valuable wood in the country. It is very 

 strong, requiring a mean of 1102 lbs. to break it, is very elastic, and 

 has a specific gravity nearly the same as teak, 724. The timber is 

 seldom straight, and is therefore not well adapted for beams, but is 

 much employed for furniture, ship building and other purposes, 

 where curved timber is required. It is not proof against white ants. 

 The tree is found all over this Presidency either cultivated or in its 

 native jungles, but is rare in southern India. Kunkur appears to be 

 prejudicial to it, for in the neighbourhood of Agra, as soon as the roots 

 reach the Kunkur > the tree which up to the time had been quite heal- 

 thy, suddenly dies off. The Calcutta climate seems to agree very well 

 with the Sissoo, as there are some magnificent trees in the neighbour- 

 hood. 



14. Sit Saul — Dalbergia latifolia. — This is called Black wood 

 and Rose wood, and sometimes when well worked is fully equal to the 

 finest description of the Hose wood of commerce. The tree attains a 

 larger size in southern India than it does in these provinces, and the 

 wood is more commonly used there. The tree is common in central 

 India and also, I believe, in Assam. I imagine the " black rose wood" 

 mentioned by Capt. Baker to be this wood, and if so, its specific gravity 

 is 875, and it required 1196 ibs. to break it. It is a remarkable fact 

 that up to this date it has not been ascertained to what tree we are 

 indebted for the " Rose wood" of commerce. 



15. Peet Sal — Pterocarpus marsitpium. This with P. santali- 

 nus, red sandal wood, and P. dalbergioides, Andaman red wood, are 

 those magnificent timber trees of which very fine specimens are to be 

 seen in the Botanical gardens, and also in the Barrackpore Park. The 

 most prettily shaped tree in the Park is P. marsupium. P. dalber- 

 gioides flowers in the gardens in July and August, and spreads its 

 delicious fragrance from along distance round. One tree is a most 

 superb one, out-topping nearly every tree in the garden. The two other 

 species are abundant in the jungles of central and southern India. P. 

 marsupium is believed to produce a variety of the Gum Kino. It is 

 universally known in central India as the Hyissar, and is a very strong, 

 tough and durable wood, perfectly impervious to insects of any kind. 

 From its waved grain it makes very handsome furniture. Its good 



