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Available Foreign Hardwoods 



SOUTH AMERICAN HARDWOODS 



Editor's Note 



Following is the second of the series of articles on foreign hardwoods available tor use in this country. 

 The first article covered hardwoods available in the Central American countries and the next article will cover 

 the various sv'ecies of merchantable hardwood timber trees of Africa. 



It lias been estimated that the forests of South America occupy 

 more than 700,000,000 acres, which represent approximately one-half 

 the forest area covered in North America. Nearly one-half of the 

 South American forests may be classed as tropical which are wholly 

 different from our north woods. There are seldom solid stands of 

 single species or even of a few mixed species. lu.stead, hundreds 

 of kinds of trees grow thoroughly mixed and scattered through the 

 whole forest. In the Amazon valley it is estimated that over 200,- 

 000,000 acres are covered with original forests, movement through 

 which, owing to the richness of 

 the growth, is difficult if not im- 

 possible. Only the Congo forests 

 compare with the greater part of 

 this prodigious zone of forest 

 in extent and density of timber. 

 This is tlie largest body of troj)- 

 ieal timber in the world and 

 will become of special importance 

 to the lumber interests after a 

 great proportion of the forests 

 in the densely settled parts of 

 the temperate zones are cut away 

 to make room for agricultural 

 operations required to support 

 the rapidly increasing population. 

 The Amazon river is naviga 

 ble for 2,100 miles, and the bulk 

 of the valuable tropical hard- 

 wood timber in Brazil, Peru, 

 and Ecuador can thus be reached. 

 The navigable possibilities of 

 the Amazon and its tributary 

 streams are of the greatest -salue 

 to all tlio lumber and other com- 

 mercial interests of tlie world. 

 All the timber in Colombia, 

 Venezuela, and the Guianas can 

 be reached through the Orinoco, 

 Magdalena, and other minor 

 streams which flow north ami 

 east into the Carilioan sea. The 

 forests in the latter countries 

 are also largely tropical and have 

 for many j-ears supplied valuable 



fancy and other hardwood to all the countries of Kurope and to the 

 United States. In fact a few species such as the greenheart, mahog- 

 any, cedar, and satinwood have become scarce through continued ex- 

 ploitation. Other species are now being cut to supply the demand 

 which is constantly increasing. 



]lr. Sclilich ollce remarked that as tlie timber supply declined in the 

 northern hemisphere, another suitable source of suppl.y must be 

 looked for in the southern hemisphere. The demand for different 

 woods and the growing scarcity of the most useful kinds in this 

 country force us to go to the tropical countries of the southern 

 hemisphere for many millions of feet annually. The South American 

 woods now in general use in this country are much more numerous 

 than is generally supposed e\en by the large importers and wood 

 users. A number of different kinds are imported into this country 

 from South America under one name as in the case of rosewood, 

 mahogany, cedar, or satinwood. 



In asking what the jiossibilities are for the introduction of woods 

 suitable for furniture, I'onstruction, and for general l)uildhig pur- 



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poses, wo enter into a many-sided inquiry. There is, of course, an 

 enormous disproportion between the total number of woods that will 

 be offered to importers and the number actually suitable as sub- 

 stitutes for our more important native timbers which are becoming 

 scarce. It will be difficult to find a wood in South America that 

 will have the admirable qualities of our yellow- poplar and southern 

 yellow pine, but the maple, beech, oak, and birch can be duplicated 

 so far as appearance, working, and lasting qualities are concerned. 

 Brazil and the countries lying to the north of it have approximately 



1,500 distinct timber species. 

 Argentina, Paraguay, and Ura- 

 guay are said to have about 900 

 species, of which about one-half 

 are important. Chili, Bolivia, 

 and Peru have equally as many 

 very useful kinds in the moun- 

 tain forests, which are as }'et 

 jiracticall.y inaccessible. The 

 transportation difficulties in the 

 mountainous countries are so 

 great that the cities of the west 

 coast depend almost wholly upon 

 imports chiefl.y from the United 

 States for their lumber, yet their 

 mountain forests are known to 

 be very extensive and valuable. 

 The population of Chili and Ar- 

 gentina is growing so rapidly 

 that a source of supply can 

 hardly be expected from these 

 countries. Brazil and Colombia 

 will perhaps form the chief 

 source of our future timber sup- 

 ])ly. Transjiortation facilities 

 arc being speedily developed, and 

 ca|iital from the United Slates 

 is |Miuring ill. thus developing 

 natural re.><uurces with amazing 

 ia]iidity. Europe draws upon 

 the (iuianas and Venezuela for 

 large quantities annually. Peru, 

 Ecuador, and Bolivia will not 

 figure in the world's lumber 

 market to any great extent for 

 many years to come. Among the timbers which may be expected to 

 jilay a more or less important part in the American markets during 

 the next ten years will be the following: 



Crapwood, carapa or andiroba (Carapa guianaisis) , is a tree from 

 sixty to one huhdred feet in height and from two to three feet in 

 diameter. It is very common in the Guianas and northern Brazil 

 and yields a reddish-brown wood resembling mahogany. It is 

 straight -grained, moderately heavy, hard, strong, and takes a very fine 

 polish. The wood is used for the cheaper and medium grades of 

 furniture, and has been imported for this purpose for a number of 

 years. It reaches the English and American markets under the name 

 of Demerara mahogany and is generally sold for much less than true 

 mahogany brings. A closely related species (Carapa prandifiora) , 

 commonly known as cumussiu, is a very good wood and possesses 

 nearly similar properties. This tree is found principally in Brazil, 

 and the wood is likely to be introduced into this country for cabinet 

 making. 



Vinliatico, or cabui {Inlcrolohium latcsccits), is a large tree often 



BEECH KORK.'-:t.S OF CHILI 



