The paper examines the suitability of utilization of rubber wood (Hevea brasiliensis) as an alternative to traditional wood. To this end its different properties have been determined and appropriate processing techniques have been developed. The results reveal that, inspite ofsome limitations, rubber wood may be used for a variety of purposes.

The growth and yield models/tables for Gmelina arborea Roxb. (gamar) in the plantations of Bangladesh have been prepared based on site indices. Models were derived by the data collected from permanent sample plots and also from temporary sample plots. Step-wise and all probable combinations of the independent variables methods were used to select the best suited models subject to the satisfaction of the statistical and biological requirements. Models were selected to estimate the stand dbh,stand mean height,stand basal area per hectare, total overbark volume yield per hectare and underbark volume yield per hectare upto top-end diameter of 10.0 cm. The yield prediction models derived in the study could satisfactorily be used for gamar plantations within the limitations ofstands of ages 3-12 years and site indices of 7.5 to 20.0 meters based on a base age of 12 years.

The effect ofwax emulsion varying in concentration from 0 to 1.5% at 0.5% increments on the strength and dimensional stability of urea formaldehyde bonded particleboard at three glue levels, 8%, 10% and 12% has been observed. Results show that the addition of wax emulsion is useful to manufacture particleboard at low glue level, viz., 8% and 10%. But it does notshow any appreciable effect on the board made with 12% glue. The properties of particleboards improve with increasing addition of wax emulsion for 8% glue and for 10% glue, the addition of 1% wax has beneficial effect on all the properties under investigation. Beyond this, further improvement is not marked. A combination of 10% glue and 1% wax is found advantageous to manufacture strong particleboard having good dimensional stability.

Seven plant species have been recorded as hosts of teak defoliator, Hyblaea puera Cram.
(Hyblaeidae: Lepidoptera) in Bangladesh. OfthemAvicennia officinalis Linn., a mangrove species,
is a new hostrecord ofH. puera. The food preference ofthe pest larvae was evaluated for all the host
plantspecies. Tectona grandis Linn, wasfound to be the most preferred food followed byAvicennia
officinalis Linn., Callicarpa arborea Roxb., Vitex peduncularis Wall., V. pubescens Vahl., V. negundo
Linn, and Oroxylunt indicum Vent.

The gross features and minute anatomy ofjacaranda wood (Jacaranda acutifolia Humb. and
Bonpl.) have been described in details in this paper. The anatomical properties ofthis wood have
been correlated with the physico-chemical properties to determine the probable uses.

Leaf spot and twig blight diseases of Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh. from 15- month-old plantationsfrom Khunia Palangbeat ofCox’s Bazar Forest Division, is reported. Symptoms ofthe diseases have been described. Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (Penz.) Sacc., a Deuteromycetes fungus was isolated and identified. It was the most frequent and found to be responsible for the diseases. The diseases were practically controlled and minimized by spraying the fungicide “Cupravit” at the rate of one gram per litre of water, twice at ten days interval.

Nine tree species growing in the villages of Bangladesh were studied to determine their
suitability for making hardboard. Hardboards were made on defiberizing the pre-steamed chips
mechanically. Strength and water-resistance properties of the boards were determined. It was
found that none ofthe species could make hardboards good enough to meet the requirements of
Class-1 hardboard of the US Hardboard Association Specifications. Nevertheless, all the species
except neem, produced good, or even better, hardboards compared with sundri used in Khulna
Hardboard Mills.

The tropical moist deciduous forests of Bangladesh locally known as sal forests predominantly contain sal (Shorea robusta Gaertn. f.). It covers about 110 thousand hectares ofland and has a wide but interrupted distribution. There is scant record on the flora and vegetation ofsal forests from Bangladesh. About 65 percent of sal forest is highly degraded. The present work is a first attempt to document the woody flora of sal forests of Bangladesh. In this paper a general description ofthese forests containing landscape, soils, climate, forest types, vegetation, floristics and diversity has been given. The woody taxa enumerated including three monocotyledonous families (Gramineae, Liliaceae and Palmae) number about 260 species under 160 genera comprising of56 families. Out ofthese 260 taxa trees,shrubs and woody climbers are represented by about 133, 77 and 50 species respectively. Leguminosae ranks top of the list. Euphorbiaceae and Rubiaceae occupy the next positions. About 17 families are represented bysinglewoody taxa only. Floristic composition varies from area to area. The conservation needs have been emphasized.

This paper attempts to compare the efficiencies of moulded chairs and conventional chairs from financial view point. The financial impacts of moulded and conventional chairs were evaluated through a case study. The study areaswereBangladesh ForestResearch Institute (BFRI) and three otherlocations ofChittagong city. The study revealed that the net presentvalue, benefitcost ratio and internal rate of return stood at Tk. 113.06, 1.36 and 105.39% respectively for moulded chairs compared to Tk. 58.53,1.16 and 48.85% respectively for conventional chairs. The cross over discount rate was 29.71%. Further, the internal rate of returns due to production of moulded chairs were found less sensitive to changes in costs and prices. The study, therefore, found the moulded chairs to be a better choice within some limitations.

Chemical components and water repellent property of rubberwood (Hevea brasiliensis) from Bangladesh were determined. The speciesfrom Bangladesh was found to possess about the same amount of water, alcohol-benzene and causticsoda solubles compared to that from Malaysia. Bangladeshi rubberwood contains higher amount of holocellulose than that from Malaysian rubberwood. Water repellent property of the species was found to be lower than that of teak. Considering the cellulose content and water repellent property, the species seems to be suitable for chemical pulping, conversion products and various indoor uses.