476 AMET ICAN FORESTRY 



I have never tried to figure on the return from a plantation of Cedrela. 

 In forestry, as in other things, I find it never pays to count your chickens 

 before they are hatched, and I fear that is too often the case with foresters 

 and the promoters of enterprises in general. 1 think it is safe to say, however, 

 that a Cedrela plantation, close to good transportation, ought to yield as 

 much, if not more, than any tree I know of. 



Marden sa^vs that Cedrela australis, which is practically the same as 

 Cedrvhi toon a, '4s, without doubt, the most valuable timber produced in New 

 South Wales." It is used for carriage building mainly, but has many other 

 uses, of CQurse. It is by far the most popular tree with the foresters of 

 the part of Australia where it grows. 



There are other genera of the great order Meliaceae in Australia with 

 which I am experimenting. One in particular, the Australian Rosewood 

 (Dysoxylon Fraseranum) is o the mahogany class and, although as yet 

 but slightly used, it will come to us some day as a high-priced cabinet wood. 

 It is still cheap in Australia, but according to one forest officer, "the virtues 

 of rosewood cannot be overrated." Another forest officer says, "there is a 

 tremendous future for this wood and it is worthy of careful nursing and 

 protection, more especially as red cedar (meaning Cedrela australis) is now 

 nearly extinct." 



It may be a mistake to pin oneself to one species or one order of woods, 

 but where their number is legion there is little else to do. 



Closely related to these Cedrelas is the genus Quarea. Gtiarea trichi- 

 Uodcs, the guaraguao of Porto Rico, is a valuable tree with wood very similar 

 to Cedrela, but devoid of the cedary aroma. This cedary aroma is supposed 

 to keep insects out of cigars. There are several species of the genus Trichilia 

 and a dozen or more little known species of Cedrela. 



In South America, especially the region bordering on the Carribean Sea, 

 there are still other genera. 



This group of probably fifty or more species is all that could be desired 

 from a silvicultural st; ndpoint. They are quick growers, great seed pro- 

 ducers (not small seeds like the eucalypts and melaleucas which blow away 

 or which the ants devour) and free from disease. The wood they yield is 

 fit for the very finest cabinet work, carriages, furniture, boards and shingles. 

 Even the small limbs may be cut into shingles. The value of lumber anyway 

 up to date is mainly the labor which has actually been put into it. The 

 stumpage value, including the land, is ridiculously low low because land is 

 plentiful and people few. 



I might add in conclusion that all planters in the tropics must take into 

 account that a hurricane comes now and then which blows the weaklings 

 flat to the ground and strips some of the stronger trees bare of leaves. While 

 I write (October 17) the barometer is low and the tall straight Australian 

 pines, which were made to withstand the gales, are bending and swaying like 

 whips. 



