HITHERTO LITTLE KNOWN. 63 



building, for posts, and other purposes where strength is required ; and 

 can be obtained 30 or 40 feet long by 15 to 20 inches diameter. 



Mesua ferrea, L. — Iron wood of the East Indies, and is a native also 

 of Java, growing about 40 or 50 feet high. The wood is hard, and close 

 grained, of a deep reddish-brown colour ; looks well when polished, and 

 is used in Ceylon for bridges, roofs, &c. 



Alphitonia excelsa, Reiss. (Red Ash, Coopers' Wood, or Leather 

 Jacket, of New South Wales.) — It is a fine tree, growing from 50 to 100 

 feet high, with a diameter of 2 to 3 feet. The wood is very sound and 

 close grained. The heart wood is of a light colour, something like Hon- 

 duras mahogany, and takes a good polish. 



Copaifera pubiflora, Bth. — Purple heart of British Guiana, where it 

 grows very abundantly, and to a large size, producing a timber of very 

 great strength and durability. The colour varies much in different 

 specimens, some being of a deepish red brown, but the most beautiful 

 is of a clear reddish purple, exceedingly handsome when polished. 



Baphia nitida, Lodd. (Barwood, or Camwood of Commerce). — A tree 

 50 or 60 feet high, native of the West Coast of Africa. It is well known 

 in this country as a dye-wood ; and is imported in logs from 4 to 5 feet 

 long, and about a foot in width. The wood is tolerably close grained, 

 of a deep reddish brown colour, and is occasionally used for turning. 



Ceratonia Siliqua, L. (Carob). — A tree 40 or 50 feet high, native of 

 the South of Europe and the Levant. The wood is rather coarse grained, 

 but of a fine reddish brown colour. This is the tree which produces the 

 Carob bean, or St. John's bread. " 



Prosopis julliflora, Dc. (Cashaw.) — A native of Jamaica ; growing to 

 the height of 30 or 40 feet. The wood is hard, close, and even grained ; 

 the heart wood of a lightish mahogany colour, the sap wood yellowish. 

 It is much used for shipbuilding in Jamaica. 



Detarium senegalense, (Gmel.) — A large tree, growing on the Gambia, 

 where it is called " Dattock ;" producing a hard and compact timber, of 

 a deep reddish brown colour, apparently very durable. 



Adenanthera pavonina, L. (Rukta chundun.) — A large East Indian 

 tree, growing 100 feet high ; found abundantly in all the forests. The 

 wood is very hard and durable, of a deep red colour, which is extracted 

 by the Brahmins for staining their foreheads after bathing. 



Acacia arhorea, Willd. — Wild Tamarind of Jamaica, where it 

 grows to a height of 40 or 50 feet, producing a close compact wood, 

 strong and durable ; heart wood of a light reddish brown, the sap wood 

 yellow. 



Cerasus serotina, Lois. (American Bird Cherry.) — Growing in many 

 parts of North America ; frequently attaining 120 feet in height and 4 

 feet in diameter. The wood is very fine, even grained, and hard ; of a 

 very clear mahogany colour, without any markings, and susceptible of a 



