352 
rOPULAR SCIENCE REVIEW. 
one of the handsomest of the brown woods. It is getting 
scarce. Kingwood and zebra- wood are rich yellowish-brown, 
striped ; sometimes full of zoned eyes. 
A valuable, heavy furniture wood of British India is the 
blackwood, locally called rosewood, obtained from the Dal- 
bergia latifolia, a leguminous tree. It can be procured in any 
quantity, and of immense size, but in large panels is liable to 
split. Jackwood ( Artocarpus integrifolia) furnishes a yellowish 
wood, which deepens into brown. When made into tables and 
well kept, it attains a polish little inferior to mahogany. The 
Chittagong wood ( Ghickrassia tabularis ) is more used in 
Madras for the making of furniture than any other wood. It 
is light, cheap, and durable. 
Lingoa wood, the Amboyna wood of commerce, was im- 
ported into this country in considerable quantities from the 
Moluccas during the time those islands were British posses- 
sions. It is stated to be abundant at Ceram, New Guinea, and 
throughout the Molucca seas. The wood can be obtained in 
any quantity if the precaution be taken of ordering’ it during 
the previous season. Circular slabs of Amboyna wood are 
occasionally met with as large as nine feet in diameter ; but the 
usual size is from four to six feet. These slabs are obtained by 
taking advantage of the spurs which project from the base of 
the trunk, as the tree itself has not sufficient diameter to 
furnish such wide slabs. The kayubuka of commerce, so much 
esteemed as a fancy wood, is obtained from the gnarled 
excrescences which are found on these trees (Pterosp er mum 
Indicum.) 
In the beauty of its duramen the blackwood of Australia 
(Acacia melanoxylon) , also known as hghtwood, possesses many 
resemblances to the best walnut, and is considered even 
superior to that wood, being harder and more durable. It is a 
favourite wood with the cabinet-makers of Victoria for furniture 
of every description, and receives a very high and beautiful 
polish. 
There is one other very ornamental wood which has lately 
been largely used in cabinet work by the French, — the cypress of 
Algeria (Thuja articulata) . The wood is dark nut-brown, close- 
grained, and very fragrant. It is believed to be the algum or 
almuz of Scripture, one of the most costly materials furnished 
by Hiram, king of Tyre, to Solomon, for the building of the 
Temple, and for the house of Mount Lebanon. Planks of this 
wood formed the precious citrine tables of the Roman ban- 
queting halls. 
It requires a large capital to keep up a good stock of seasoned 
wood, so as even to support a moderately large manufactory ; 
but as there are no duties on wood, it pays the dealer well to 
