262 WOODS OF COMMERCE 



saw, in structure resembling Bald Cypress, very durable in contact 

 with the soil ; pith-rays very distinct. The most valuable of 

 Californian timber-trees, and the most used material for building 

 and carpentry in the State ; used also for sleepers, fencing, telegraph- 

 poles, shingles, and furniture, corresponding in quality and uses 

 to White Cedar. The wood is so soft and porous that it dries 

 quickly, losing its vitality entirely. Being tlius absolutely dead 

 wood, it keeps its shape in spite of all exposure, and is probably the 

 most reliable known wood for such a purpose as a jointed sign- 

 board exposed to the elements. The joints of such a board, if 

 made of Redwood once dry, will never open. Though suited for 

 drawers or lining, it is somewhat too monotonous for ornamental 

 furniture. In the London cabinet trade it is now known as 

 '' Sequoia." Though sending up vigorous coppice-shoots when 

 felled, *' at the present rate of destruction not an unprotected 

 Sequoia of timber-producing size will be left standing twenty 

 years hence " (J. G. Lemmon in 1895). 



Redwood, Coromandel or Indian. See Mahogany, East Indian. 



Redwood, in Jamaica. See Ironwood (xxiii). 



Rewa-rewa {Rymdndra exoilsa Knight = Knightia exceha R. Br. : 

 Order Protedcece), New Zealand. Known also as " Honeysuckle- 

 wood." Height 100 ft. S.G. 785. W 46—50. p 161. On a 

 radial section lustrous golden-yellow with pretty wavy warm 

 red-brown silver-grain, perishable on exposure, and becoming 

 u foxy " unless thoroughly seasoned. Valued for inlaying and 

 cabinet-work. 



Rimu {Dacr^dium cupressimim Soland. : Order Taxinece). New 

 Zealand. Known also as "New Zealand Red Pine." Height 

 40—80 or 100 ft. ; diam. 2—5 ft. ; sometimes 40—50 ft. to the 

 lowest branch. S.G. 678—563 when seasoned. W 33—45. 

 p 140*2. Yielding timber 20—80 ft. long, squaring 10—30 in. 

 Chestnut-brown near centre, lighter outwards, iigured with light- 

 red or yellow streaks, moderately heavy and hard, very strong, 

 fine, tmiform and straight in grain, working well and taking a good 

 polish, but not durable in contact with soil. Extensively used in 

 building for beams, girders, etc., for panelling, fencmg, railway- 

 ties, paving, native canoes and furniture. This species, the most 

 widely distributed timber-tree in the Dominion, and the most exten- 

 sively used in local carpentry, has a certain future before it in the 

 English market. Working as readily as Birch, and comparable 

 in strength with Oak, it is likely to replace Satin Walnut, which it 

 somewhat resembles, as a cabinet wood, being far more reliable 

 than that timber, 



Roble, the Spanish for Oak, used in Trinidad for Platymiscium 

 platystdchyum Benth. (Order Legumimsce), a hard, tough wood 



