i«3 



odour, etc. eg., Sandal wood, Teak, Deal, all of which have very 

 distinctive odours. Again there are certain markings such as the 

 satin like lustre of satin wood, the white mineral substances in the 

 vessels of Teak, (apatite), etc. all of which give clues. As regards 

 the bark, colour, thickness, texture, mode of stripping, should be 

 observed. 



The following table is that given by Proffessor Marshall Ward, 

 as a possible method of classification of timbers. I believe that it 

 may prove of great help to those who have to do with timber, al- 

 though I am unable so far to put in more than a very few Malayan 

 timbers owing to my want of experience in those timbers. 



I. — Conifers. 



Wood except close to pith contains no true vessels, but resin 

 canals sometimes occur in the autumn wood. Annual rings sharply 

 marked by denser autumn zone. Medullary rays very fine and 

 numerous. 



A. No resin canals present. 



(i) . No true heartwood can be distinguished. (Silver fir.) 



(ii) . Distinct heartwood. (All Pines and the Larch.) 



B. Resin canals present. 



(iii) . No true heartwood. e.g.. Spruce. 



(iv) . Heart wood distinct. (All Pines and the Larch.) 



II. — Dicotyledons. 



A. Always have true vessels, wood complex in structure. An- 

 nual rings may or may not be present. Medullary rays always 

 present. 



B. No distinguishable annual rings, but sometimes zones 

 (partial) of tissue forming incomplete bands which run into each 

 other, not passing right round. 



I. Partial rings or false rings present. 



(i). Medullary rays of two kinds, broad and fine. 

 a. The latter in majority, Indian Oaks, Quercus lamellosa, Q. 

 incana. 



(ii). All medullary rays of one kind, and narrow. 



a. e.g.. Figs, which have the false rings very distinct, Pongamia 

 glabra, Terminalia belerica, no distinct heartwood. 



b. False rings obscure, wood hard, heavy, and close grained, 

 Iron wood type. Messua ferrea (Penaga puteh. 



Heritiera littoralis (Dungun) 

 Hardwickia binata 

 Terminalia tomentosa 

 Dyospyros Melanoxylon 



Xylia dolabriformis (these are the chief hard 

 woods of India) all these have a dense red, 

 brown, purple, or black heartwood, The fol- 

 lowing are difficult to classify. 



Dalbergia Sissoo 



D latifolia 



Bassia latifolia 



