THE TECHNOLOGIST, 



NOTES ON APPARENTLY USEFUL WOODS HITHERTO 

 LITTLE KNOWN. 



BY JOHN R. JACKSON. 



If it were attempted to divide or classify the products of the vegetable 

 kingdom according to their sphere of usefulness, we should find no part 

 of greater importance, if we exclude cereals, or requiring greater inves- 

 tigation, than the woods. Our knowledge of the source of many of 

 our most beautiful woods which lend their aid to minister to our daily 

 requirements and luxuries, are but imperfectly known, and our know- 

 ledge on this point has certainly not advanced much of late ; nor will 

 it, until we can receive authentic specimens of the foliage and flowers 

 of each tree. Timber merchants and manufacturers are content to 

 receive the woods under the commercial name, and purchasers of the 

 manufactured articles are generally easily satisfied by obtaining such 

 articles in the most beautiful woods irrespective of their names ; so that 

 until buyers persist in requiring the scientific names of the woods from 

 the manufacturers, who could with a little trouble obtain them, there 

 is little hope of the sources of some of our best timbers being known, 

 although many great and satisfactory results will undoubtedly accrue 

 from the vast accumulation from all parts of the globe now under in- 

 spection at South Kensington. These large collections are not brought 

 together simply to show us the extent of our knowledge, but they tend 

 to teach us how much, as well as how little, we know of the application 

 of art and science to these productions. Doubtless, then, much will be 

 added to our store of knowledge in this as in every other branch of 

 science, at the close of this great show. The value and importance of 

 this section of economic botany cannot be misunderstood. Timber is 

 certainly one of the most essential requisites in the Arts and Manufac- 

 tures, and though in these days iron has superseded wood for ship-building 



VOL. III. D 



