Page:Timber and Timber Trees, Native and Foreign.djvu/204

184 adapted for ship-building purposes, being the largest and the lightest, the weight being about 50 lbs. to the cubic foot. Large sizes of these can be obtained, but only at a great expense. The Peroba-branca is more plentiful than the others, is equally good, and better adapted for spars. It floats about the same as Pitch-pine. Peroba is stronger than Teak, but not so heavy."

THE GRAPIAPUNHA TREE.

This is a yellowish-coloured wood, with a clean, free, straight grain, moderately heavy, strong, and one of the most useful woods for planking or timber. It attains only medium dimensions, but may be turned to account in many ways in the domestic arts, although, judging from the appearance of the specimen, it did not impress me as being of the best quality.

THE TAPINHONHO TREE.

The wood is light brown in colour, porous, with a clean, free, straight grain, moderately heavy, and is used for frame-timbers in ship-building. It attains only moderate dimensions, and is probably of crooked growth.

THE PIQUEA-MARFIM TREE.

The wood is of a bright yellow colour, close and fine in the grain, and would work up well, taking a high polish. It is similar to Satin-wood, but scarcely so hard or so heavy. It is chiefly used for ornamental work, for which it appears to be very suitable.

THE CANELLA-PRETA TREE.

The wood is brown in colour, straight in grain, light, and easy to work. It is of straight growth, and attains considerable dimensions. It is used for decks in ships, and in house-building and carpentry generally; but, when