185 



enterprize whicli should recommend itself to the capitalist ; for if he 

 looks at the price of the timber of the present day, and the outlook 

 for the future, there are certain and sure signs that he who possesses 

 an estate covered with this valuable timber in a convenient spot for 

 haulage and shipment has an investment which is superior to many of 

 those which the present day oifers. 



The planting is easy and inexpensive, the attention required at 

 the outset is but little in comparison with other cultivation and when 

 once established, the trees practically take care of themselves and 

 grow into money. Cedrela Wood Oil is also obtained from Cedrela 

 Odorata. 



In the semi-annual report of Messrs. Schimmel & Co., Leipzig 

 and New York the following appears : — 



Oil of cedar wood {Punta Arenas) Costa Rica, colour yellow, 

 yield 3-06 per cent, boiling between 265 and 270*^, sp. gr. 0*915, 

 Optical Rotation — 5° 53' in 100 in tube consists mainly of sesquiter- 

 pence and yields dichloric-hydrate (Cadinene hydrochloride) having 

 the melting point of 118°. 



192.— MAHOGANY— Sivietenia Mahogani, L. 



This tree like the " Cedar " Cedrela odorata grows rapidly and 

 produces excellent wood in the Island of Trinidad. Grisebach in his 

 flora of the West Indies makes it indigenous to Trinidad, but this, as 

 stated in " Corrections" to that work, is questioned by Cruger, and I 

 think rightly, as I can certainly find no sufficient evidence that the 

 tree is indigenous here. It is also given as a native of Jamaica and 

 Bahamas and it is well known to be indigenous to Central American 

 Countries from Mexico Southwai'ds ; a large export trade being done 

 by some of these countries especially by British Honduras, and 

 '•' Honduras Mahongany " is a well known mark in the markets. 

 The tree however is found commonly throughout the West Indies, 

 and whether indigenous with us or not matters little, so long as we 

 have the knowledge that it thrives well and produces excellent timber. 

 In the year 1876 I planted trees in the lowlands of Jamaica which 

 during the time they were under my care gave a yearly average 

 growth of one inch diameter of stem. I planted some in Trinidad in 

 1889 and the average of these now give a trunk considerably over 

 seven inches in diameter and some thirty feet in height. Trees 

 planted in the early years of these gardens are now ot large 

 size and have for a series of yeai's furnished excellent timber of 



