Page:Illustrations of Indian Botany, Vol. 1.djvu/192

 very like, is found in Mysore. Two or three species are found in Goomsoor forming extensive forests, and affording to the inhabitants Incense, Dammer, and Wood oil. The imperfect descriptions of Dr Maxwell and Captain McPherson, ( Madras Journal of Science Nos. 18 and 19) to whom we are indebted for this information, does not enable me to determine the species, nor with certainty the genera, but judging from imperfect specimens collected by the former of these gentlemen, one of them belongs to Roxburgh's genus Shorea, apparently his 5.robusta, what the others may be, I am unable to form even a conjecture.

Both the authors mention Chloroxylon Dupada as being one of them, but this I think must be a mistake, originating in a statement of Dr. Ainslie, that that is the botanical name given to the Indian Dammer tree by Dr. Buchanan, but which, was an error of his, arising from his not being aware that several trees produce Dammer and that his Chloroxylon Dupada was already described by Linnaeus under the generic name of Valeria. The specimens sent unquestionably do not, belong to that genus, but as the inflorescence is in a very young state and there is no fruit, I do venture to say what they are, though 1 suspect them to be Roxburgh's Shorea robusta. From Ceylon the only ones I have seen are a species of Dipterocarpus ( D. turbinatus) and a new species of Vateria.

These are various and important. Almost every species of the order abounds in balsamic resinous juice, in very general use in every part of India, and well known to Europeans under the common English names of Dammer, and Wood oil, according as it hardens or remains fluid on exposure to the air. That drawn from the Shoreas or Vaticas and Vaterias hardens and forms Dammer, and Piney, that from Dipterocarpi retains its fluidity, and is the Wood oil, of the bazaars. Some of the species produce a fragrant resin, which is burnt in the temples as Incense. Dammer is used in India for most of the purposes to which pitch and rosen are applied in Europe. Wood oil either alone, or thickened with dammer, supplies a common, but useful, varnish for wood, possessing the valuable property of, for a long time, repelling the attacks of white ants, as well as of resisting the influence of the climate. The Camphor tree of Sumatra is a species of Vatica, (Shorea camphorifera, Roxb.) and produces the finest camphor. A variety of other trees are said to afford this curious substance, but none equal to this, either in quality or quantity. The Vateria lndica (Chloroxylon Dupada, Buchanan and Ainslie, and Pinne marum of the Hindoos) produces a resin, resembling Copal, much finer than that procured from the other species natives of India, the finer specimens of which are as transparent as amber, and nearly colorless. It is procured by the very simple process of cutting a notch in the tree, sloping inwards and downwards. This is soon filled with the juice, which in a short time hardens by exposure to the ail. When used as a varnish the usual practice is to apply the balsam before it has become hard : but when that is not procurable the resin melted by a slow heat and mixed with boiling Linseed oil forms a varnish which answers equally well for most purposes.

As this varnish is of the finest description the following formula for its preparation may prove useful to some who are unacquainted with the process. Into a new and perfectly clean earthen vessel (a chatty) put one part of the Piney dammer, in coarse powder cover closely, and apply a very gentle heat until the whole is melted ; then add about two parts of linseed oil, nearly boiling hot, and mix well with a wooden spathula. Should the varnish prove too thick it can at any time be reduced by the addition of more oil, or if required may be made thicker in the first instance.

It is essential to the success of the process that the Piney be melted in a covered vessel over a very slow fire, and the whole of it reduced to a fluid before the addition of the oil, which must, to ensure an equal mixture, be nearly boiling hot. This varnish is used for carriages and other fine furniture requiring to have their paint well protected, or to which it is desirable to impart a fine gloss.

A spirit varnish is prepared by reducing to powder about six parts of Piney and one of Camphor, and then adding hot alcohol sufficient to dissolve the mixed powder. Alcohol does not dissolve Piney without the aid of the Camphor, but once dissolved will retain it in solution.

The varnish thus prepared is employed for varnishing pictures, &c, but before being used requires to be gently heated to evaporate the Camphor, which otherwise will produce by its after evaporation a roughness and inequality on the surface of the picture, and spoil its appearance.

In addition to these more common applications of Piney, it is, on the Malabar coast, made into candles. These diffuse, in burning, an agreeable fragrance, give a fine clear light, with