AMERICAN LUMBER IN FOREIGN MARKETS. 59 



forests. As yet those vast regions are almost exclusively occupied by wild Indians. 

 A large portion has never been explored, and hence but little is yet known of the 

 interior with its treasures of vegetable wealth. Only where it skirts along the 

 Parana" and Paraguay rivers, with here and there a small clearing and settlement, 

 the nucleus of a number of agricultural colonies, has anything been scientifically 

 determined in reference to its timber resources. As far, however, as its fastnesses 

 with their succession of small rivers and watercourses have been penetrated they 

 are found to be covered with the densest forests of lofty trees descending down to 

 the river line. The growth may not be quite so noble and sky-piercing as that which 

 is found in the forests of Tucuman and Oran 7 but it embraces, so far as is now known, 

 quite the same varieties and an equal abundance. And the region possesses this 

 immense advantage, that by means of the great watercourses flowing along its east- 

 ern borders and the smaller streams, including the Vermejo and Pilcomayo, which 

 penetrate its interior and which are found to be navigable for many hundreds of 

 miles, all its vast wealth of precious woods and valuable timber is rendered accessi- 

 ble not only to Buenos Ayres, but, as ocean ships can load along its banks, also to the 

 markets of the world, without the necessity of transshipment. As I have said, the 

 more elevated portions of the Chaco present a landscape like a park where clumps 

 of woods alternate with open meadows. The lower parts are covered with continu- 

 ous forests and an undergrowth which in some places is so dense as to make it impos- 

 sible to penetrate into the interior. But the woodchoppers are at work, and the 

 quantities of all kinds of precious woods which are shipped down the rivers are 

 becoming greater and greater every year, As yet the greatest demand in this mar- 

 ket is for the quebracho of both varieties, which finds a use in almost every kind of 

 construction. The algorrobo is also in great request, as likewise the nandubay, immense 

 quantities of the posts of which tree are used for wire-fencing on the Pampas. 

 Besides what comes to Buenos Ayres, however, there are ship loads after ship loads, 

 which are exported directly to Germany and France, and there made into the most 

 costly articles of furniture, or sawed up into veneering which rivals anything which 

 comes from Brazil or Central America. I have said that nearly all the varieties of 

 trees which I have heretofore described as belonging to the subtropical forests are 

 also to be found in the Chaco. There are also numberless varieties which seem to be 

 especially indigenous to that region. Among these are the following: 



The bianco grande, a beautiful tree which grows to the height of 25 feet and is 18 

 inches in diameter. Its wood possesses a very fine fiber, and is used for mechanical 

 moldings, and also for cabinet work. Specific gravity, 0.720. 



The carandd. It belongs to the family of the algorrobos. It grows to the height 

 of 30 to 40 feet, with a trunk of 18 inches in diameter. The color of its wood is 

 violet, very solid, and of an excellent grain, and valuable for furniture and cabinet 

 work. Specific gravity, 1.197. 



The carapay (Acacia altramentaria), a large and beautiful tree. The bark is used 

 for tanning hides and is an important article of commerce. The wood is red, with 

 black veins, which polishes exquisitely and is used for fine furniture, cabinet work, 

 and veneering. The wood is very durable and is excellent for railway sleepers. 

 Specific gravity, 0.977 to 1.180. 



The cuiru, one of the tallest trees to be found in the Chaco. It attains a height 

 of over 150 feet, with a diameter of not more than 4 feet. Excellent for masts, yard- 

 arms, rafters, etc. Specific gravity, 0.580. 



The timbo. This is also a large tree, having a height of 70 to 80 feet and a diam- 

 eter of 3 to 3| feet. It is a soft wood of about the consistency of pine, though in 

 color it resembles cedar. It is greatly used and makes excellent flooring, weather 

 boarding, etc., having the good quality of not warping, though flexible and light. 

 Specific gravity, 0.425. 



The palma (Copernica campestris}. Several varieties, and especially the black and 

 the yellow palm, are found in the Chaco, where they occupy large tracts in forests 



