22b 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



Aiif-'iist 111. I'll!) 



The Interesting Forests of Cuba 



The forests constitute the chief natural resources of Cuba. A good 

 deal of the tropical hardwood supply required by the United States 

 is produced by the Cuban forests. The geographic position of the 

 island could not be more advantageous for transportation by sea, and 

 it is believed that the woods available for export to the States and to 

 European countries will become a source of still greater revenue and 

 profit to all Cuban timber land owners. Woods of rare and useful 

 qualities are found in every part of Cuba. For hardness, durability 

 and unique shades of color, they rival those from other parts of the 

 world, and as the numerous industries of the island are further de- 

 veloped, transportation improved and railroads extended a great 

 variety of the woods growing in commercial quantities will become 

 available for use in the various industries of the United States and 

 elsewhere. 



It has been estimated that from 15 to 18 million acres of land in 

 Cuba are covered vrith forests. This means that practically half of the 

 island is forested. Owing to the difficulties of transportation much 

 of the valuable timber remains untouched except along the coast and 

 the larger streams. Once Cuba falls into her stride by making the 

 timber accessible by suitable roads and railroads traversing the 

 densely-wooded parts of the interior, there will be a great possibility 

 for supplying woods for an endless variety of uses. It wiU be able 

 to supply not only the local demands, but it can assist also in provid- 

 ing considerable quantities for use in the States and less favored 

 countries. 



Notwithstanding the fact that Cuba possesses a vast supply of 

 woods of different kinds, it now imports annually about 6,000,000 feet 

 from the United States and Canada, and there will be an increased 

 demand for timber especially for soft woods, during the next ten years, 

 which will serve as a strong incentive to develop and make available 

 the woods on the island. Besides the regular timber Cuba now im- 

 ports for house construction and building purposes generally, large 

 quantities of shingles, shooks for packing cases, stave heads, hoops 

 and other material manufactured or partly so, are imported from the 

 United States. There are many woods on the island suitable for all 

 of these and other purposes, but there are no facilities at present to 

 cut, transport and manufacture the material into usable form. 



It is generally believed that on account of the vigorous growth of 

 all vegetation in the tropical forests the timber supply is inexhaustible. 

 This is not the case and Cuba is liable to have its forests devastated, 

 unless steps are taken to prevent waste and injudicious cutting and 

 logging. The critical period has already arrived in respect to some 

 species, for there are a number of users of Cuban woods in the States 

 now seeking other woods to be used in place of the Cuban kinds which 

 are difficult to procure in the right sizes, in sufficient quantities and at 

 moderate prices. This is true particularly of mahogany, cedar and 

 lignum vitae. 



The exploitation of the forests in Cuba has been even more wasteful 

 than in the United States; the loggers have no interest in the future 

 growth of timber on the cut-over land. It is very essential that Cuba 

 should conserve its valuable timber supply. In fact, it is almost as 

 vital to the people of the United States as to Cuba itself to have the 

 proper forest protection on this nearby island. The States have been 

 drawing timber from Cuba for over 200 years and they will depend 

 on this source for all time to come. Mahogany, cedar, lignum-vitae, 

 lance wood, dagame, cocas or granadilla, almique, sabicu, mahagua 

 and dyewoods are the principal kinds that have been shipped to this 

 market, ami some of these are indispensable to American wood users 

 and it is important that a constant supply is made available. The 

 total value of wood exported from Cuba during a normal year is about 

 $1,500,000, and this could easily be doubled without detriment to the 

 forest, if proper care was taken in the selection and cutting of the 

 trees. 



Among the 250 tree species growing in Cuba only about 200 of them 



attain merchantable sizes and so far only 10 or 12 of these have 

 become well established in the foreign markets. Besides the well- 

 known kinds there are a number of other good and serviceable tim- 

 bers available in Cuba, some of which are listed below: 



Cuban Woods Known in Foreign Markets. 



Mahogany (Swietenia mahogoni L. ) Caoba, c. de clavo; c. de obra; 

 c. de caracolillo; c. de ramazon; c. lisa. The bulk of the standing 

 mahogany in Cuba which is estimated roughly to be about 150,000,000 

 feet, is in the Sierra Maestra mountains and is now practically 

 inaccessible. The properties, uses and value of this wood are well 

 known. 



Cedar {Cedrela odorata L.) cedro; c. macho; c. de ramazon; e. 

 hembra. This tree is common throughout the island. Its chief use is 

 for making cigar boxes; locally it has more uses than any other wood 

 in Cuba. 



Lignum-vitae (Guaiacum officinale L.) Guayacan ; g. negro; palo 

 santo. This is confined chiefly to the dry woods and is now becoming 

 very scarce. The trees are from 6 to 30 inches in diameter and 

 the larger logs are highly esteemed for engineering purposes. Its 

 properties and uses are well known. 



Lancewood (Oxandra laurifolia [s. w.] A. Rich.) Purio; Yaya; 

 yaza blanca ; yaya commun ; white lancewood. It is a tree from 30 to 

 80 feet high and from 10 to 20 inches in diameter. This specie is 

 found throughout the island and is used for making fishing rods, 

 shafts, spars, ramrods and general turnery. The wood is yellowish 

 and very fine-grained, hard, strong and very elastic. The true lance- 

 wood spars form a regular article of trade in the New York markets. 



Dagame (Caly cophyllum candidissimum D. C.) This is another 

 tree more or less evenly distributed throughout Cuba which attains a 

 height of 50 feet and from 2 or 3 feet in diameter. The logs reaching 

 this market are rarely over 12 inches in diameter; the properties and 

 uses of the wood are nearly similar to those of lancewood. 



Granadilla {Brya ebenus T). C.) Oro de perdiz. This is a relatively 

 small tree and while it is found in nearly all parts of the island it is 

 by no means plentiful. The heartwood alone, which is nearly black, 

 is used for special purposes. Cane and flute makers are the chief 

 users of this wood which is a regular article of trade among dealers 

 in tropical hardwoods. 



Almigne. This is the trade name of one of the Cuban woods form- 

 ing an article of trade both here and in England. It is imported in 

 logs ranging from 1 to 3 feet in diameter and in various lengths. The 

 wood is of a reddish color and is well liked for making special small 

 articles including cue butts, canes and umbrella handles. The annual 

 importation of this wood is less than 30 tons. 



Sabica (Lysiloma sabicu Benth.) Jigue; j. blanca; moruro de 

 costa. Several species of trees yield so called sabicu ; they are botani- 

 caUy allied and resemble each other so closely that it is not possible to 

 distinguish them in the markets. The wood has a pleasing brownish 

 color often resembling mahogany. Its uses are numerous both locally 

 and abroad and it is highly esteemed by the furniture maker for 

 special work. The trees attain a diameter ranging from 3 to 7 feet 

 and exceptional logs occasionally yield lumber which is sold for $200 

 per M. feet. 



Mahagua {Paritium datum G. Don.) Majagua azul; emmajagua; 

 blue or mountain mahoe. This is a mediimi-sized tree growing 

 throughout the island, especially in the moist woods. It produces a 

 hard, heavy and bluish-green wood that is highly esteemed locally for 

 making fine furniture, farming implements and numerous other im- 

 portant uses; the wood takes a very beautiful polish and could be 

 used to great advantage in the manufacture of high-class furniture. 

 It is now being imported here only in a small way. 



While Cuba produces dyewoods they rarely come into this market. 

 The fustic or fustete of Cuba is said to produce a high percentage of 

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