During data collection for preparation of volume functions for
high forest species at Cox’s Bazar Forest Division, some photographs
of wood stacks were taken in order to find a relationship of stacked
volume versus solid wood volume. The stacks were composed of
round woods of varying sizes. The photographs in black and white
were taken from three places of Cox’s Bazar Forest Division.

A high degree of water repellency is obtained in wood modified by silanation. However, the degrading effect of HC1, formed as a by-product in the reaction, may not be fully offset by the use of acid acceptors or inert gases in the reaction. Tensile tests on microtome sections of Pinus nigra wood, treated variously with dimethyldichlorosilane, clearly show that chemical modification substantially decreases tensile properties of wood. Experiments with large specimens of the same species suggest that silanated zone is only superficial. As a result, most of the strength properties of the large specimens remain unimpaired.

Bara bet (Calamus viminalis Willd. var. fasciculatus Becc.) seedlings produced a well-developed taproot within 10 days of germination. After one month the secondary roots were found to appear from the taproot system. The rate of taproot elongation declined subsequently and at the age of 5 months lateral roots developed from the base of stem. The taproot either stopped growing or degenerated between 6 and 11 months and profuse lateral roots of about 30 cm length developed by the age of 12 months. The number of lateral roots and their length and depth from ground level increased with age. A mature plant of 6 years produced about 4.13 m long lateral roots, 30 cm below ground level anchoring approximately 16 m3 of soil. The root system was of horizontal spreading type. The plant also produced maximum number of vertical rootlets within 30 from the base of long lateral roots. The diameter of root from the base to tip was more or less uniform but abruptly tapered at the tip, with a thick, pointed root cap.

Only a fair price of jute for the
growers can ensure its sustained supply for
the industries or for export. Multifarious
uses and vigorous export promotion drives,
in their turn, can keep the demand of
jute to the desired level. Thus, a project
was undertaken for making paper-pulp
from jute using a process to give a higher
yield compared to the conventional kraft
process, yet retaining the kraft like properties.
The success of such a project is
likely to open the possibility of a perpetual
high demand of jute in the industrial sector.

Safety matches are a consumer item of everyday use. There are about twenty safety match factories located mostly in the southern part of Bangladesh. In 1984-85 the country produced 940 million gross boxes of safety matches (Anon. 1985). This quantity is enough to meet the entire demand of the country. At present there is no export of this commodity presumably because of scarcity of suitable timber species and strong competition in the international market. The traditional species used in Bangladesh have different unattractive tints.

The lack of knowledge of treatability of timber species with pressure method may result in poor treatment in respect of penetration and retention of the preservative chemical Inwood. This knowledge for our indigenous timber species was not ascertained before. The relative penetrability of nineteen timber species was, therefore, determined with Lowry empty cell process using 40:60 creosote and light diesel oil mixture.

Specific gravity of species did not seem to have any bearing on the penetration cf preservative. Grain structure and presence of tyloses  appeared to be correlated with penetrability of the wood. The species were classified into four treatability groups according to the degree of heartwood penetrability.

In this paper efforts have been made to put together scattered information available on various species belonging to the family Dipterocarpaceae found within the geographical boundaries of Bangladesh. Importance has been given to the genus Dipterocarpus. Their taxonomy, distribution and past and present management practices have been particularly discussed.