The Sierra Maestra. 255 



This is found only on some rugged peaks of the front range above 

 the 1800 foot level, where it grows to considerable size in almost 

 pure stand, Copal, Lechero, Juba, Azulejo of the lower levels 

 and two species nowhere else found, Calomo sielago (?) and 

 Jelecho (Jilatio?) accompanying the Pines. Diameters of 24- 

 inches, 130 feet in height and 50 to 60 feet log lengths are not un- 

 common, and an average of 10 M. feet to the acre was estimated on 

 a 45-acre location, there being several hundred acres located on the 

 very tops of a number of craggy peaks, evidently the most xerophy- 

 tic locations. 



How did this Pine, which is apparently not found to the East 

 nearer than Hayti, with a sea of evergreen broad-leaf forest inter- 

 vening, ever come to establish itself here? As a curiosity may be 

 mentioned the occurrence of a single stray, young, (30 years) 

 thrifty specimen of this Pine on a densely wooded river slope, al- 

 most near sea level. 



Perhaps a few words in regard to the distribution of the Palms 

 should be added. Some six indigenous species besides the planted 

 Coco Palm were recognized, none of them of sufficient numerical 

 development to become a comercial factor, unless the fan-leafed 

 Palma de Cana, Sabal umbraculifera Mart., be excepted, which oc- 

 curs in goodly sizes and numbers on the slopes and crests in the 

 Western section. While these Palms in the lower elevations occur 

 in single individuals, near the top of the Maestra and on the higher 

 elevations they become grouped; especially the spineless Manaca, 

 Geonoma dulcis Wr., occurs in groups and shady groves. Here, at 

 the very top, also the very spiny Juta, Bacteris Plumeriana Mart., 

 and several species of Tree ferns add to the feeling of being in trop- 

 ical surroundings. 



COMMERCIAL ASPECTS. 



Turning now to the commercial aspects of this forestgrowth, we 

 are at once aware that, outside of the difficulty of exploiting it on 

 account of the rugged topography, which is local and can eventually 

 be overcome, there are two conditions, to be taken into consideration, 

 which pertain probably to nearly all tropical forest, namely the 

 small amount of commercial material per acre, and its distribution 

 over so many species. 



Here, in a truly virgin forest, rarely as many as ten trees of com- 



