98 OX THE AMARAXTH 'WOOD 



&c. Those engaged in some trades, and especially that of powder- 

 making, pay particular attention to the quality of charcoal made from 

 woods. The dyer disregards all the above-named properties, even that 

 of colour, if he cannot utilise it, and forms a class of dye-woods which 

 he subdivides according to the colours which he can extract from them, 

 and apply to his textiles. 



It is not my intention to enter upon a discussion of the relative 

 value of the methods used in classifying woods. I shall content my- 

 self with stating that of the different systems, I prefer that which 

 collects into one group those which have the same immediate principle, 

 as a marked property of a certain number of plants. I propose in this 

 paper to distinguish the immediate principles which are the characteristics 

 of violet-coloured woods. Those which are included in a group to 

 which the general name of amaranth wood has been given, will form the 

 first subject of our encpiiry. A little consideration will show that many 

 of those at present used only in cabinet-making, may also be enumerated 

 amongst dye-woods. I have, moreover, some hope that these researches 

 may in some small degree contribute to the solution of the great 

 problem of the colours in living animals. 



Under the name of violet-wood, wood of amaranth, &c, different 

 kinds of wood for cabinet-making, are distinguished in commerce accord- 

 ing to their deeper or lighter shades of red, purple, or violet. They 

 . are obtained principally from South America and the Antilles. The 

 requirements of the cabinet-making trade are satisfied chiefly from 

 Guiana and Brazil ; but these woods also abound in New Granada, 

 Mexico, and Paraguay. A great uncertainty still exists as to what species 

 and botanic family the amaranth wood may belong, though probably the 

 immediate colouring principle of the wood is, like that of indigo, spread 

 over different families. 



But to remove all this uncertainty, we must arrive at the seat of 

 the commerce of these woods ; we should be present where they are 

 felled — in a word, we ought to be able to examine the plant which pro- 

 duces them. In making enquiries up to the present time, we have 

 taken into consideration merely the general appearance and the violet 

 colour of the wood of amaranth, but the exterior characteristics of vege- 

 tables, as of minerals, are very often liable to deceive us in the deter- 

 mination of their race or species. I have found woods classed, on account 

 of their colour, among the amaranth woods, which, judging from the* 

 nature of their colouring matter, are of a very different species from 

 those comprehended in that group. I will now enumerate and describe, 

 in a few words, those whose nature I have examined and which I class 

 among woods of amaranth. 



The Pao Colorado. A red wood of Bolivia and Brazil (this specimen 

 came from the collection of Mr. Weddell). The wood is of a blood red 

 colour, resembling red sandal wood, which is not merely superficial, but 



