DecembiT lu. I'.ilil 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



17 



the beginning of the present year that the local factories could 

 scarcely meet it. The liouse, office and church furniture industry 

 centers around Cape Town, there being 90 furniture and 123 wood- 

 working establishments in that consular district alone. Nearly all 

 lumber purchases in South Africa are made through agents or by 

 timber merchants, often located iu the United Kingdom, though 

 some of the larger factories buy parcels of hardwoods direct from 

 American exporters. 



British South Africa should not be overlooked by .\mericau hard- 

 wood firms. Having no native timber, being a rapidlj' developing 

 country, there is an opportunity to increase the demand for our 

 woods already known, and to introduce those w-oods with which it is 

 unfamiliar. Birch for tri^ and furniture should find a market 

 there, together with red gum, and the virtues of maple flooring 

 made known. 



The Argentine, which is the most productive of the Latin-Amer- 

 ican markets, has had a remarkable growth. In the last hundred 

 years the population has increased from less than a half million 

 to over 8,000,000; during the years between 1893 and 1913 indus- 

 trial establishments more than doubled, and the past five years have 

 seen a remarkable industrial development owing to the cutting off 

 by the war of nearly all imports. 



Our Hardwoods in the Plate 



The utilization of North American hardwoods in the Plate are, 

 iu general, as follows: 



For interior finish — oak, walnut, brown ash, beech. 



For sash and doors — oak. 



For vehicles — oak, white ash, hickory, poplar. 



For coffins — oak. 



For furniture — oak, walnut, red gum (satin walnut). 



For tanks and vats — white oak. 



For cooperage — white oak. 



While Argentina's forests are one of the country's most valuable 

 natural resources, the hardwoods are little utilized for furniture 

 and trim, owing to the difficulty in seasoning and working, and the 

 cost of production and transportation. The less expensive native 

 hardwoods are used for rough construction, bridge work, docking 

 and planking. 



The war gave a great impetus to the domestic furniture industrj' 

 of the Argentine. Foreign imports, especially English and French, 

 being cut off for nearly five years, native made furniture became 

 firmly established, and will not be easily routed. 



Oak, which has been growing in popularity in the principal South 

 American countries, together with other North American hard- 

 woods, can be still further popularized by judicious exploitations. 

 There was a well-marked prejudice against our oak a few years 

 back, but th5s is fast being overcome by careful selection and 

 uniform service. The most successful importers of American woods 

 in the Argentine are those firms handling a number of lines of mer- 

 chandise. These firms are generally large and are considered pro- 

 gressive, yet they are inclined to frown upon innovations, hence 

 to extend our trade in those woods already known and to introduce 

 new hardwoods, our exporters must depend chiefly upon publicity 

 campaigns carried on by themselves or their associations. 



Argentina, Chile, Peru, Uruguaj', Mexico all offer opportunities 

 for North American hardwoods. In developing these fields certain 

 minor problems are presented not found elsewhere, but on the 

 whole the same requirements must be observed as in other world 

 markets — continuous and intelligent cultivation, uniform quality 

 and service. 



Don't Neglect Old Markets 



Aside from these so-called pioneer fields, unwearied effort should 

 be directed toward the old, established markets. Exporters should 

 continue to further their red gum trade in Southern Europe, par- 

 ticularly in Spain and Italy, where it has for long been highly 

 regarded. Both of these countries have always given preference 

 to Austrian oak because of its soft, mild texture and, in quarter 

 sawn, because of its unpronounced figure — the splash figure so 

 highly thought of by many here at home not being popular abroad. 

 By careful selection, even grading and uniform service, there is no 

 reason why American oak should not occupy the place in all world 

 markets to which its inherent qualities entitle it. 



One thing American oak exporters should bear in mind when 

 meeting Central European competition is the fact that the latter is 

 generally sawed alive and shipped unedged. The advantage claimed 

 is that the resulting luiiibfr from each log is kept together, and 



Vm CI NT or QUAKTtTY 



10 20 30. 



40 



50 



cou/m^Y 



VHUIT) KINGDOM 



C-AHABA 



BLLGIU^ 



HOT.Li/1D 



CTXiHAHY 



9.VMH 



ypAHrr 



■Percent 

 oi 



44 



3J 



J^ 



TSPtTlSH SO ATPIf.A 



AI]5iTPALIA 



ITALY 



AU. OTHT.T?.*^ 



TOTAL 



.75 



,50 



,25 



AQQ. 



Diagram 3— Exports of oak lumber from the United Stales, nine years. 1912-1920 



