CHLOROXYLON SWIETENIA. Roxb.
Swietenia chloroxylon, Ron.,.
Satin-wood, . . . Eso. Porasham, . . . TAIL Bhireo,. . . . MAHE. Kodawah porasham, „ Mal burute, or flowered BillUda TEL.
satin; Buruta, SINGH. EMU chettu, . „ Mududa, . . . mu. I Bilugu? URIA.
Vum-maai, . . . „ Bhayroo, . • • • The satin-wood tree grows in Ceylon, chiefly in the eastern districts, where it attains a large size, and is esteemed next to the Calamander in value. It grows in Coimbatore, in the Animallay hills, where Dr. Wight got planks 15 inches broad. Indeed, some of the finest satinwood to be any where seen is to be met with near the foot of the Animallay, though even there this valuable wood was rapidly disappearing under the cultivator's axe. It grows at Gokak ; but Dr. Gibson had never seen it reach beyond the size of a small tree, which, when straight (seldom the case), would afford a log squaring 3 inches. It is found only in the Padshapoor jungles, and in those of the upper Mool, in the Ahmadnaggur collectorate. In Ganjam the tree is not so common as in Bodo Bodo; and it is said to bo still more plentiful in Mobery and other taluks to the south. It is a most service able bard wood, well suited for naves of wheels, and, were it procurable in any quantity, for all framework requiring strength and and durability. The Peradenia bridge, a single arch of 205 feet on the road to Kandy, was designed for and princi pally executed in this wood. The wood is very close-grained, bard, and durable, of a light orange colour, takes a fine polish, and is suited for all kinds of ornamental purposes, but is somewhat apt to split. For picture frames it is nearly equal to American maple. The timber bears submersion well ; in sonic instances it is beautifully feathered, and flowered or feathered satin-wood, when first polished, is one of the most beautiful woods in the world. Mr. Rohde had seen specimens sur passingly beautiful ; but the valuable logs are not distinguishable from ordinary satin-wood till sawn, and twenty or forty may be cut without one of any beauty being found. The feathered
satin-wood seems very liable to sever when dry and old. Articles of satin-wood get darker and lose much of their beauty by age, unless pro tected by a coat of fine varnish. A cubic foot weighs 55 to 57 lbs. It is used for axletrees, oil presses, posts, bed-posts, rafters, and tine handles of axes; and in the Madras Gun Carriage Manu factory, for naves of wheels, also for fuses. The wood is excellent for agricultural implements, internal decoration and furniture, brushes and turnery.—Drs. Roth. ii. 400, Gibson, Bight, Cleg horn ; Mr. Rohde; Mr. 31endis; Hartwig; Par.
CHO, or Chor, are vast and continually encroach ing beds of sand left by the torrents that rush down from the low bills of the Siwalik range. The rapid increase of the area thrown out of cultivation by being covered with barren sand, has been a source of continual trouble and anxiety to the revenue officers of the district; and the increase of the sand area is .being continually accelerated by the destruction of forests on the outer hills. These hills are composed chiefly of an exceedingly soft sandstone. When once its surface is laid bare by the destruction of the grass and brushwood that once covered the hills, it is very readily swept away by the heavy rainfall. The vertically falling rain at once penetrates it, down almost to the level of the plain, and excavates a narrow gorge with perpendicular sides extending far into the hills, but with the bed of the stream sloping very gently until it terminates in a vertical wall at the upper " end. The rush of the water over this precipice, every time a shower falls, disintegrates a quantity of the rock, and helps. to extend the area of loose sand on the plain below. The sand stone in its natural state is not unfertile; it is easily penetrated by the roots of plants, and contains a considerable admixture of lime and clay. Moreover, patches of ancient forest are still occasionally to be found on the hills.