236 



THE FORESTER. 



October, 



The following descriptions give, in 

 part, the specific characters of the vari- 

 ous samples: 



Mora. Color, bright orange-brown, 

 probably darkening with age and expo- 

 sure. Radially cut and polished surface 

 satiny. Similar in general appearance 

 to Osage Orange. Much used for fellies. 



Guayacan. Heartwood dull yellow- 

 ish-brown, with dark olive-brown streaks; 

 sapwood pale yellow, with brownish 

 .areas. Smoothed surface, oily to the 

 touch. Exceedingly hard, brittle and 

 difficult to cut. It grows in compara- 

 tive abundance in the entire mountain 

 chain and on the southern coast of the 

 island, producing a wood which is very 

 solid and resistant. On this account it 

 is much sought after in the shipyards for 

 blocks, pulleys, spokes, tires, and many 

 other things requiring great strength. 

 The resin from the Guayacan Lignum 

 Vitae is highly valued for gout. 



Laurel Sabino. Color, clear olive- 

 brown, A straight-grained wood, simi- 

 lar in color bat finer grained than the 

 heart of Tulip and Cucumber tree of the 

 United States. 



Cedro. Color, pale reddish-brown. 

 Wood fibers interlaced, the wood split- 

 ting irregularly. Very similar to the 

 Mahogany of commerce. Probably Ce- 

 .drela odorata, the well-known cigar- box 

 wood of commerce It is no longer 

 abundant in Porto Rico, and is now 

 largely imported from Santo Domingo, 

 costing $150 per 1,000 feet. It still 

 grows in Aguadilla and near Aibonito, 

 Juana Diaz, Cayey and Luquillo. 



Hueso. Color, light yellow, with 

 irregular, thin yellow-brown streaks ; 

 wood fibers strongly interlaced. A 

 tough, uncleavable wood, used for hubs. 



Ausubo. Color, clear, dull, reddish- 

 brown. Wood fibers slightly interlaced 

 and appearing straight grained. Re- 

 sembles somewhat a finegrained Teak. 

 It is the chief and most-used timber on 

 the island, being noted for its great dura- 

 bility. It is used in the making of wagon 

 spokes, which are turned out by ma- 

 chinery in Ponce, and small stocks of it 

 were noticed in several towns. It is 



close grained and beautiful in color, and 

 should be utilized for veneering ; it 

 would make most excellent furniture. 



Ucare Negro. Color, dark umber- 

 brown. Wood fibers interlaced, but 

 appearing to be straight grained. Re- 

 motely resembles a very fine-grained 

 Black Walnut. 



Pata de CABAand Algarrobo. These 

 samples are so similar in details of struct- 

 ure as to be from the same or closely 

 related species. Color, rich, blackish- 

 brown, irregularly mottled, and streaked 

 with areas of pale reddish-brown ; sap- 

 wood (present in Pata de Caba) light 

 brown. Wood fibers strongly interlaced, 

 giving smoothed surface a " curled " ap- 

 pearance. Very attractive cabinet woods. 



Ucara Blanca. Color, light ashy-' 

 brown. Wood fibers strongly inter- 

 laced. Remotely resembling fine-grain- 

 ed heartwood of American Elm. 



Guaraguao. Light reddish brown, 

 streaked with lighter and darker shades. 

 An exceedingly cross-grained, porous 

 wood, somewhat similar in color to 

 Cedro. Suitable for a cabinet wood. 



Capa Blanca.- Color, clear light- 

 brown. Structurally similar on the radial 

 section to American Beech. Straight 

 grained, and suitable for interior finish. 

 Used for rollers in coffee hulling mills. 



Capa Prieta.- Color, rich light-brown, 

 with darker streaks and mottlings. Wood 

 fibers interlaced, but wood appearing to 

 be straight grained. Radial section 

 structurally similar to Capa Blanca. 

 Tangential section somewhat similar to 

 dark heartwood of American Elm. Hand- 

 some wood for interior finish. Used for 

 flooring. 



Hachuelo. Color, rich, dark yellow- 

 ish-brown, with streaks and mottlings of 

 light yellow-brown. Wood fibers inter- 

 laced, but appearing rather straight 

 grained on the finished surface. Valu- 

 able for cabinet work. 



Maga. Color, rich chocolate-brown. 

 Wood fibers slightly cross grained, the 

 smoothed surface appearing straight 

 grained. The rich color and attractive 

 grain of this wood should make it val- 

 uable for cabinet work. 



