238 AMERICAN LUMBER IN FOREIGN MARKETS. 



residents of the United States, hence the requests for seed which have 

 reached nie. I send a small parcel of the niaouli seed to the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture through the United States dispatch agent at San 

 Francisco. The seed is still mostly attached to the boughs in its pods. 

 These should be bruised before planting. Each pod contains a large 

 quantity of seed, which are very small and shaped like a coniraa. 

 They should be sown in the spring in hotbeds of light earth, well 

 watered at all seasons, and always kept from frost. The young plants 

 are ready for transportation in fifteen months after sowing, when no 

 more care is necessary in climates not subject to frost. 



L. LE MESCAM, 



Commercial Agent. 

 NOUMEA, Hay 14, 1894. 



LUMBER IN COSTA RICA. 



The native woods principally utilized as lumber consist of two or 

 three varieties of cedar, as well as several cheaper and less durable 

 woods unknown in northern countries. 



Of imported lumber, pine is the only kind used in any quantity, with 

 some oak brought for use of the railroad in its repair shops. The 

 principal objection to pine and other foreign lumber is that in a very 

 few years it is attacked by insects, which eat through the stoutest 

 pieces and completely destroy them. 



The value of lumber imported from the United States during the 

 year 1893 was $3,816 in American gold. 



There is an import duty of, say, 2J cents in American currency per 

 kilometer (2.204G pounds) on lumber such as boards, rafters, and for 

 construction purposes generally. 



According to a Government decree dated July 28, 1890, all lumber 

 for construction imported for use in Port Limon is free of duty tillJuly 

 29, 1895. 



Cedar is worth about $6 and mahogany about $8 (American money) 

 per ton of 40 cubic feet. 



In view of the small demand for foreign lumber and the condition of 

 general building at the present time, there is very little to be suggested 

 in the way of extending trade. Sawmills are being erected in different 

 parts of the country, and native woods are well adapted for most local 

 building purposes. 



HARRISON B. WILLIAMS, 



CQH8UL 



SAN JOSE, July 2, 1894. 



