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THE RESINOUS EXUDATION OF ROSEWOOD, 
THE RESINOUS EXUDATION OF ROSEWOOD, 
(Dysoxylon Fraseranum). 
By M. B. WELCH, B.Sc., A.I,C., 
Economic Botanist, Technological Museum. 
[With Plates IX - X.] 
[Read before the Royal Society of N. 8. Wales, December 6, 1922. } 
In the present investigation, an examination was made of 
the timber of Rosewood, Dysoxylon Fraseranum, Bentham, 
(Natural Order Meliacez), to endeavour to trace the origin 
of the resinous exudation (so-called ‘‘sweating’’) which 
occurs in this species. Although the generic name is 
derived from words meaning ‘‘ill-smelling,’’ this does not 
apply to this particular species; .the vernacular name 
**Rosewood”’ indicating the rather pleasant odour of the 
seasoned timber. Rosewood was at one time much more 
extensively used as a cabinet wood than it is at present, 
but it is now practically discarded by furniture manufac- 
turers, one of the principal reasons for this being the 
uncertainty of the permanency of the polish, which is often 
destroyed by the exudation. There is also some difficulty 
experienced in gluing up joints satisfactorily, on account 
of the oil present in the wood. Practically all the ‘* Rose- 
wood ”’ furniture on the market to-day is made from stained 
Queensland Maple. The exudation is not uniform in its 
occurrence, since specimens of the timber in the Techno- 
logical Museum, which have been polished for many years, 
show no signs of trouble. Inone case, a specimen polished 
25 years ago is still in good condition. Some french- 
polishers claim to have some method of treatment, which 
they state is efficacious. Others again say that it is impos- 
‘sible to guarantee the lasting qualities of the polish, and that - 
