exhibits a modulus of rupture exceeding 20,000. A dozen of 

 these varieties are higher in rank than the best building material 

 found in our native forests. 



The Central American woods, growing on a more widely dis- 

 tributed area, in a soil of less uniform character and in a greater 

 variety of climate, are naturally of more widely differing character 

 than those of Cuba. The high and dry atmosphere and more 

 innutritious soil of the interior, and the rich bottom lands of the 

 swampy regions of the coast, with every intermediate condition of 

 soil, climate and exposure, produce timber of soft as well as hard 

 varieties, of less as well as of greater strength or elasticity, and 

 thus yield to the market a larger assortment of useful woods than 

 could any insular district. The moduli of rupture, as determined 

 by Mr. Flint, vary from 7,000 to nearly 30,000, and the moduli of 

 elasticity from about 600,000 to about 2,500,000, usually approxi- 

 mating 2,000,000, the modulus of rupture commonly falling at 

 about 22,000. 



INTRODUCTION BY RUFUS FLINT, M.E. 



The woods of Nicaragua, grown under the sunny sky of the 

 Torrid Zone, and in the mountains, valleys and on the sandy shores 

 of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, are many in number and of 

 widely different character in nature, strength and color. Unre- 

 stricted in their growth, in the exuberant and wild forests and 

 woods of the country they attain enormous sizes, and exhibit 

 great strength and solidity. 



As a general rule, they are of delicate hues and beautiful colors, 

 exhibit extreme fineness of grain and have marked peculiarities in 

 texture and general appearance. 



The investigation of their strength and natural properties is a 

 matter of great interest. With the facilities offered in the 

 Mechanical Laboratory of Sibley College for complete investiga- 

 tion of the materials of construction, I have thought it advisable 

 to conduct such an investigation of a few of the Nicaraguan woods 

 so as to make known the characteristics, net only of those that have 

 found their way into the markets of this country and of Europe, 

 mainly because of their worth as dye woods or for ornament, but 

 also some others, perhaps of better if not equally prized proper- 

 ties, which have yet remained unknown in the industries. 



