66 NOTES ON APPARENTLY USEFUL WOODS 



wood is hard and compact, of a dark reddish-brown colour, with dark 

 stripes, and silvery shaded knots ; used for cabinet work, picture 

 frames, &c. 



Highly- Variegated Woods of a Brown or Reddish-Brown Colour. 



Cedrela Australis, R. Br. (Polai, or Cedar, of New South Wales). — 

 This is a magnificent tree, growing from 80 to 150 feet high, with a dia- 

 meter of 3 to 4 feet. It is a most valuable wood, strong and durable, of 

 a very deep, rich, reddish-brown colour, beautifully figured with dark 

 variegated markings, looking very handsome when polished. 



Cedrela odorata, L., a native of Jamaica and the West Indian Islands, 

 is another lofty tree, producing a rich coloured, variegated wood, but not 

 so deep in colour as the former. The colour of the wood appears to be 

 influenced by the place of growth, that from Cuba being the lightest, and 

 that from Jamaica of the darkest brown. 



rterocarpus erinaceits, Lam. (African Rosewood). — A native of the 

 West Coast of Africa, and growing abundantly on the Gambia, produces 

 a very close-grained, dense wood, of a deep, rich brown colour. It takes 

 an excellent polish, and would look well made up into articles of fur- 

 niture, &c. 



Amygdalus communis, L. (Almond). — A native of the shores of the 

 Mediterranean, but growing in the north of Africa, Persia, Spain, Italy, 

 &c. The tree grows about 20 feet high, producing a wood of a fine, 

 even grain, and a rich crimson brown colour. It is a very beautiful 

 wood, and takes a high polish. 



Fagus Cmuiiaghami, Hook. (Tasmanian Myrtle). — Growing abundantly 

 in nearly all the Tasmanian forests, attaining 150 to 200 feet high, 

 with a diameter of 10 to 15 feet. The wood is very hard and durable, 

 of the most beautiful appearance when polished^being of a deep reddish- 

 brown colour, thickly studded with knots and wavy lines of a much 

 darker tint. It is much used in Tasmania for furniture, picture frames, &c. 



Cercis siliquastrum, L. (Judas tree). — A native of France, Italy, Spain, 

 &c, growing to a height of 20 or 30 feet, produces a firm, even-grained 

 wood, of a rich dark colour, streaked with deep brown markings. It 

 takes an excellent polish, and might be useful for many purposes. 



Melanoxylon Brauna, Schott. Brauna of Brazil, where it grows to a 

 good sized tree. The wood is hard, close-grained, and firm, of a rich, 

 deep colour, somewhat resembling rosewood, but rather darker. It is 

 capable of taking a high polish. 



Albizzia Lebbek. — A tree 20 or 30 feet high, growing in both the East 

 and West Indies, North of Africa, &c, affords a close-grained hard wood 

 of a yellowish-brown colour, beautifully variegated with markings 

 passing from a mellow tint to a deep rich brown. 



Eucalyptus acervula, Sieb. — A native of New Holland, where it grows 

 to a good sized tree, and produces a very close-grained and hard wood, 



