164 
TIMBER 
the north-east of India. In some places, i.e., in the gorges 
at the foot of the Nepal Tera hills, the sal attains a height 
of 100 to 150 ft. with a clear stem of 60 to 80 ft. to the 
first branch and a diameter of 6 to 8 ft. ; such dimensions 
are, however, exceptional, and as a rule the height is 60 to 
80 ft. with 30 to 40 ft. clear stem, and 2 to 2^ ft. diameter. 
The logs are almost straight without any knots, flaws, or 
cracks, but the wood dries so slowly that it continues to 
shrink sometimes for years after other classes of wood 
have become quite dry. Small scantlings and planks are 
very liable to warp and split in drying, but the wood is 
remarkably fibrous and cross grained. Superior to almost 
all Indian woods for strength, it is well adapted for 
engineering purposes such as bridges, etc., and for house 
and ship building and for gun carriages. It is also very 
much used for railway sleepers, and their life is from 
eighteen to twenty years. The timber varies in colour 
from light to dark mahogany colour, possesses great stiffness 
and durability, and is the best building timber in Northern 
India. The annual rings are only noticeable on freshly- 
cut wood. It is classed with greenheart, mora, and a few 
other timbers in Lloyd's List. 
Weight about 55 lbs. per cubic foot. 
Toon {Cedrela toona) is a true cedar and akin to the red 
cedar of New South Wales and Queensland. When freshly 
felled it resembles ash, and becomes darker with age until 
it resembles mahogany in colour. Does not split or warp, 
it is durable, scented, easily worked, and is the best of the 
Chittagong woods of commerce. Toon makes excellent 
tables, chairs, and bookcases, frames and furniture of all 
sorts, and is also used for doors and windows, but not for 
beams and joists of roofs, as it is not strong enough, 
and is, moreover, costly. It is a close-grained timber, 
