reliable throughout. The machines used had been standardized! 

 and were known to be practically exact, and it is thought that the 

 data thus obtained, as here given, may be of real value to the pro- 

 fession, as well as to the two countries most nearly interested in 

 the results of the research. The native nomenclature is given 

 throughout. It was found difficult to obtain the botanical names 

 of all these woods, and, in many cases, those obtained were subject 

 to some question in consequence of the fact that the botanists 

 seem to have had comparatively few opportunities of study of 

 these woods ; but the introduction of the timbers of these regions 

 into our own markets will undoubtedly lead to the adoption of the 

 nomenclature obtained in their homes, and no inconvenience will 

 arise, it is thought, from the omission of the technical names. 



The examination of the Cuban woods, to which reference has 

 been made, showed moduli of elasticity as deduced from the experi- 

 ments on transverse stress and strain, varying from 1,500,000 to 

 2,500,000, British measure, the great majority of the dozen and 

 a-half varieties studied ranging above 2,000,000, or equalling the 

 stiffness of the Indian teak, and exceeding that of any known 

 variety of our native timber, with the exception of an occasional 

 sample of the strongest and stiffest of the choicest of Southern 

 long-leaved, yellow pine. The figures for the best of the Cuban, 

 woods are above those of any known North American woods, 

 exceeding their best figures by fifty per cent., nearly. Three- 

 fourths of them are stiffer than the best teak. The moduli of rup- 

 ture by transverse stress vary between 15,000 and 20,000 pounds 

 per square inch, as a rule, in but one case falling to 8,000, and in 

 several exceeding 20,000, the average being not far from 18,000. 

 The densities average above that of water, and many samples 

 exceed that unit by some twenty per cent. Quite a number of 

 these woods have just the qualities which distinguish yellow pine 

 of the finer grades; for example, Baria (Cordia gerascanthoides) 

 and Caobilla (Crotos lucidani},z.s representing the lighter varieties, 

 and Majagua (Paritium elatuni), an even lighter and stronger wood ; 

 Dagame (Colycophylluin candidissimuni), one of the most common 

 of West Indian woods, weighing but fifty-six pounds per cubic 

 foot, and having a modulus of rupture of 16,000 pounds. 



Sabicu {Mimosa adorantissimd) has just the weight of water, or 

 a trifle less, and, with a modulus of elasticity of about 2,400,000, 



