24 



THE CUBA REVI E W 



( iranadilio 



Varrua tie Camaguey 



.\rabo 



and almost invanal)ly second grade flat lands, situated near streams or along the 

 coasts of Cuba. The yellow "jucaro" is not utilized to any extent, as it is not decay 

 resistant, but the black "jucaro," locally called "juraco prieto," is prized highly for 

 all purposes where resistance to decay is necessary. The principal use to which 

 tlie "jucaro" is put in Cuba is as wharf piling, as, besides rose wood, it is the only 

 timl)er that we have that is practically toreado proof. For this purpose both the 

 yellow and black varieties are used, l»ut for cross ties and other purposes, where the 

 wood comes in contact witli the earth, the black "jucaro" is the only variety used. 



Tlie rapid exten.sion of railroad building in Culja has caused a considerable de- 

 mand for cross ties, switcli blocks, bridge timbers, etc., and to fill this demand prac- 

 tically all the woods attaining a large size which we have mentioned are utilized, as 

 well as others like the "quiebra hacha," "jiqui," "arabo," "jocunia amarilla," "ya- 

 maque," "sangre doncella," "fustete," "cerrillo," etc., etc. The "quiebra hacha" is a 

 tree very sinular to the "sabicu," Init considered rather inferior. Tlie "jiquI" is 

 found in very limited districts, principally in the northern [wrtion of Camagiiey and 

 northwestern portion of Oriente Province, and is beyond doubt the mo.st decay resist- 

 ing timber that we have in Cuba. Old fences to this date exist in the forests of 

 Camagiiey Province which history tells us formerly surrounded fine pastures, these 

 having been replaced by the slow steady growtli of the hardwood forests now found 

 covering these areas. The "jiquI"' rails composing these fences are still in an ad- 

 mirable state of preservation. Many "ji<iul" cross ties laid when the Nuevitas-Cama- 

 giiey Railroad was first built, consideral)Iy over 00 years ago, are as perfect as the 

 day when they were first laid in the track. The "jiciui"' tree grows to a large size, 

 often 4 to 5 feet in diameter, is straight and tall, and the wo(»d itself even in the 

 green state is almost as hard as iron, so that only the best of axes can be used for 

 cutting it. The grain is usually straight, so that the wood splits readily, thus lending 

 itself admirably to the making of fence posts, fence rails, and other small timbers of 

 this nature, and the medium sized trees are often squared andl used as corner posts 

 for large buildings, such as the old time sugar mill. It was also largely used for the 

 main frames of such structures, and in some parts of Camagiiey Province in the 

 depths of the forest one can still find the ruins of these buildings with the frame 

 work practically intact. Running a close second to the "JiquI"' in lasting power is 

 the "arabo." This wood is found in many places throughout the Island, but prin- 



