Page:Timber and Timber Trees, Native and Foreign.djvu/174

154 strain, or by a crushing force in the direction of its fibres. Tried by the latter process, it exhibits a peculiarity unshared, I believe, by any other timber except Sabicu. It bears the addition of weight after weight without showing any signs of yielding; and, when the crushing force is obtained, it gives way suddenly and completely, with a loud report, nothing being left of the pieces but a loose mass of shapeless fibres.

The Greenheart timber is not usually hewn in the perfect manner that Teak, Mahogany, and many other woods are when prepared for shipment to the markets of this country, but comes from Demerara only partially dressed, a great deal of wane being left upon the angles. The butts are also almost invariably left with the snapped ends, as prepared for drawing out of the forest, instead of being cut off square. Its form should therefore be considered with the price quoted per load, as it will not compare favourably with well-squared timber.

—Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 6 broke with splintery fractures, 12 to 15 inches in length; 4 and 5 with similar fractures, but only 10 to 12 inches in length.