1847.] Report on the Timber Trees of Bengal. 1101 



properties seem to be valued by the natives of Nagpore only. There 

 is no specimen of the wood that I know of in Calcutta, but it can of 

 course be easily obtained. I have made very numerous trials of this 

 wood and am of opinion, that it is the best wood in India, combining 

 as it does strength, lightness and beauty, and it is easily procurable of 

 very large dimensions. I have seen it very generally used for door and 

 window frames, but it is curious to observe that the plaster in its 

 proximity always becomes more or less stained with a red colour. The 

 finest trees I observed in their native jungles, always grow in the stony 

 bed of nullahs, a favorite locality of many leguminous trees. 



16. Seriss — Acacia serissa. This genus also contains A. arabi- 

 ca, Babul, and A. catechu, Kaira, producing timber .The Seriss is a 

 dark coloured very hard wood, approaching Sissoo in appearance and 

 properties, but with the advantage of not being so liable to injury from 

 insects. It is heavier than Sissoo and broke with 709 fts. and is not 

 quite so elastic. It is a fine handsome tree, and to be found all over 

 India growing in the plains. The wood is principally adapted for fur- 

 niture. 



17. Babul — Acacia arabica. This is a very useful, strong, tough 

 timber, used for knees and crooked timbers in ship building, for the 

 axles of country carts, handles of mallets and various agricultural 

 implements, and indeed for all purposes where very tough small plain 

 wood is required. If it attained to any size, it would be extremely 

 valuable. The tree grows well in every soil and is well known to every 

 person who has travelled in India. 



18. Kheri, Kair, Kaira, Koroi — Acacia catechu. — This tree 

 is known, wherever I have been in India, by some slight variation of 

 the words I have given above. It is more valuable than is generally 

 supposed, and when a large tree can be obtained without much of the 

 outer light coloured wood, it is an excellent timber. It is very hard 

 and turns very well, being quite as close in grain as box, kingwood, and 

 other fancy woods which command a very ready and remunerative sale 

 in England. The tree is very widely spread over India, and seems to 

 grow well even in the poorest soils. The timber described as Kerdun, 

 or Keerra from Chota Nagpore, and so favourably reported on by Major 

 Goodwyn, most probably is the same. Capt. Tickell, in forwarding the 

 specimens, says : — " It works easily and smoothly, does not chip or 



