124 WOODS OF COMMERCE 



oily resin, wliich renders it clammy until completely seasoned, 

 difficult to cut, causing sneezing in working, taking a good polish, 

 slirinking |- in. per foot in seasoning, " more indestructible than 

 iron," being both termite and teredo-proof, but having sometimes 

 extensive heart-shakes which unfit it for constructive purposes. 

 The Burmese wood contains more resin than that from the Deccan. 

 It is used for piles and beams of bridges ; in Bengal and Burma for 

 telegraph-posts; in Southern India for posts, railway-sleepers 

 (for which purpose it ranks next to Teak), carts, etc. ; in Burma for 

 agricultural implements ; and for house and boat-building in the 

 Philippines, and is probably the best hardwood in India for paving. 



Ah-pill {Erythrophldeum LaboucUrii F. v. M. : Order Leguminosce), 

 Northern Queensland and North Austraha. Probably the " Legu- 

 minous Ironbark" of Leichhardt, and also named Ldboucheria 

 cUoTostdohys P. v. M. A medium-sized tree. Wood red, close- 

 grained, very durable, and the hardest in Austraha. Used by 

 natives for spear-heads. 



Ailantus {Aildnthus glandulosa Desf. : Order Simarubece). Molucca 

 " Ailanto," French " Ailante," Germ, '' Gotterbaum," Itah " Albero 

 di paradise," Russ. " Pajasan," S^an. " Barniz falso de Japan." 

 Height 50 — 60 feet ; diam. 1 — 2 ft. 



Sapwood broad, yellowish. Heartwood not dissimilar, greyish- 

 orange, not readily distinguishable in a transverse section from 

 Ash. Rings wide and distinct. Springwood very broad with 

 numerous large vessels towards its inner margin and few small 

 ones, scattered, or in segments of circles, four or more together, 

 towards its outer part. Medullary rays distinctly visible to the 

 naked eye, with a satiny lustre. Pith-mass very large. The 

 wood contains vessels, tracheids, wood-fibres, fibre-cells, and 

 parenchyma. It is moderately heavy, tolerably hard, somewhat 

 difficult to spht, and of a beautiful satin-like lustre. It is durable, 

 and, although not common, is appreciated by cabinet-makers ; 

 but the tree is mainly grown for shade. A native of Japan and 

 Northern China, it is grown for ornament in England and the 

 Eastern United States. It is used for charcoal in Europe. 



Akagashi {Quercus acuta Thunb. : Order GwpuUferce), South 

 Japan. The dark red-brown, very hard and heavy wood of an 

 Evergreen Oak, which with that of some allied species, such as the 

 grey- white Shiragashi [Q, vibrayeana Tr. and Tav.) is used in boat 

 and waggon building, and, owing to the growing scarcity of American 

 White Oak, is now established in the European market. 



Akashide {Garplnus laxi flora Bl. ; Order GupuUferce), Japan, 

 Height 40 ft. ; diam. 1 ft. It is used for furniture, waggon-building, 

 agricultural implements and firewood. 



