Rods and Rod Material. 145 



reddish soils. A common height is from forty to fifty 

 feet. Its trunk is straight and quite free from branches. 

 The wood is of a pale yellow color, very fibrous, is close- 

 grained, thus resembling boxwood, is moderately heavy, 

 and very strong and elastic. It is very easily worked, 

 either across or with the grain. It turns remarkably 

 well, is entirely free from knots, takes a fine polish, and 

 is very durable. 



It is used extensively in general carpentry, for the 

 wood-work of ploughs, cart-axles, spokes, and spikes, and 

 is an excellent material for house-framing because of its 

 strength and durability; and joiners prefer it for their 

 work to most other woods. It is also extensively em- 

 ployed by carriage manufacturers, in ship-yards, and for 

 other similar purposes. The largest section that can be 

 obtained after squaring is twelve inches. Its specific 

 gravity is 0.90. A cubic foot weighs 56.1 pounds. 



Mr. Estrada's tests show this wood to be exceeding- 

 ly strong and elastic, a piece 1.94 inches broad by 2.28 

 inches deep and forty inches between supports, breaking 

 only under a load of 3450 pounds, and with a deflection 

 of 1.9 inches. 



JUCARO PKIETO (Bucidd). 



This tree is abundant near the southern coast of Cuba, 

 and attains a height of from sixty to eighty feet, for 

 which it requires fifty to fifty-five years' growth; it has 

 lateral roots and yields gum by incision. 



The wood is of a dark brown color, much resembling 

 black-walnut, is very strong, tough and elastic, and is 

 heavy, fine-grained, and free from knots. It stands the 

 weather remarkably well, is worked easily, and is suscepti- 

 ble of good polish, thus producing a handsome effect. It 

 is largely employed in naval constructions, for purposes 



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