The quantity of water solubles of eight hardwood species was determined as a basis for assessing their suitability for wood cement boards. From the values it is predicted that poplars would provide a better raw material for wood-cement boards than Acacia nilotica Willd., followed by Dalbergia sissoo Roxb., and Tamarix aphylla Vahl., while among the poplars, Populus alba L., would be better than P. deltoides March., P. cilliata Wall., P. euphratice Olivier and P. X. euramericana (Dode) Guinier.