ALAJUELA AND THE VOLCANO POAS 327 



logs were cut in the forest, almost universally to a standard 

 length of four varas (11 feet), squared a little and sharply 

 pointed at one end and each log was dragged to the mill, 

 often for great distances, by a pair of oxen. After several 

 days of excessive rain, the mud became so deep that it was 

 impossible to drag the logs at all, so that it was necessary 

 to wait until the mud dried a little. This was the time- 

 honored method but disastrous to the roads over — or through 

 — which the logs were dragged. Since our return from Costa 

 Rica such hauling has been prohibited and all logs must be 

 carried in carts. 



The number of species and varieties of timber trees in 

 Costa Rica is very great. Mr. Clark had a list of one hundred 

 woods which had been brought to El Brazil or the sawmill 

 at "La Eva" in Sarchi de Grecia. All of these were distin- 

 guished by native names and possessed qualities rendering 

 them better suited to one or another purpose. Many Costa 

 Rican timbers besides the well-known mahogany (Szvie- 

 tenia) have most beautiful grains and are capable of the finest 

 finish. Conspicuous among these are the "cedros" {Ced- 

 rela sp.) of which "cedro amargo" (C glaziovii) furnishes 

 cigar-box wood and much of the "mahogany" of modern 

 cabinet-makers. Other important lumbers are the numerous 

 "quizarras," all belonging to the Lauraceae; the "guayacan" 

 or "corteza amarilla" {Tecoma chrysayitha), one of the nu- 

 merous woods called Lignum vitae and much used for cart 

 wheels; the "laurel" {Cordia gerascanthus) and the many 

 valuable leguminous trees such as the guanacaste, the 

 guapinol [Hymencea courbaril), the gavilan, the candelillos 

 or vainillas {Cassia spp.) and the guachipelin {Diphysa robin- 

 ioides). The last is valuable for posts, foundations, or 

 other underground work, because when buried it remains 

 sound almost indefinitely and is not subject to the attacks 

 of insects. 



