20 THE CUBA REVIEW 
in 1920, as builders were waiting for the priges of material and labor to go down, 
With the return of normal conditions, Cienfuegos will undoubtedly continue to be a 
large market for lumber and for articles manufactured of wood. 
Some mahogany grown in the Cienfuegos district is sent to Havana for export. 
Hlowever, there is so much demand for mahogany in the larger Cuban cities that 
comparatively little is available for export, Local exporters of mahogany ship by 
schooners from the nearest seaports. Mahogany is cut principally in the interior 
places, such as Camaguey and Ciego de Avila. 
LUMBER AT CARDENAS AND CAIMANERA—NATIVE HARDWOODS FOR 
PURNITURE. 
At Cardenas a lack of native timber leads to the importation of considerable 
quantities of American lumber, says Consular Agent George A. Mnakinson. Yellow 
pine from both the east and west coasts of Florida comprises the bulk of the lum- 
ber imports, but small shipments of white pine occasionally come from northern 
ports, particularly New York. In addition to the usual demand for building mate- 
rial, quantities of lumber are ordered for local barge and car construction and for 
furniture making. Mahogany logs are shipped from Caimanera or Poqueron, in sizes 
from S inches square up and 8S feet up in length, reports Consular Agent Ralph 
Conrad. In measuring, the full length of the log is taken first, and then the cireum- 
ference at the middle. If round, every 5 inches of circumference equals 1 inch square. 
Both round and square logs are sold according to Cuban measurements. 
Practically all the furniture manufactured in Matanzas is made from native wood, 
reports Vice Consul Thomas MecEnelly. The cost of the domestic hardwood is not 
only less than that of imported fine woods, but it gives better results, since it is im- 
mune to the attacks of the comejen or boring ant of the tropics which is destructive to 
wood imported from more temperate climates. For these reasons there is no market 
here for imported fine woods, but lumber of other kinds was imported through 
Matanzas in the fiscal year 1916-17 to the amount of 1,038,722 kilos valued at $45,063, 
and in 1917-18 to the quantity of 181,685 kilos valued at $17,350. 
Vice Consul John L. Griffith, of Santiago, reports that the principal lumber 
imports are barrel shooks, used in making containers for honey, molasses, and rum. 
The lumber shipments from Santiago include mahogany, cedar, and lignum-vitze. In 
the Isle of Pines the recent demand for lumber has led to the development of the 
lumbering industry. The island has large areas of pine timber. 
NAMES AND USES OF SOME CUBAN WOODS 
The Cuban Agricultural Station, in charge of Dr. Juan T. Roig, has published a 
list of about 500 varieties of native woods of Cuba. The following extract gives the 
common names, characteristics, and uses of some of the more important woods: 
Woods Description Uses 
0: See Hard, heavy, fine grain....... In anchors, signs, balustrades, ete. 
Semumeene Costa............ Fine, shell Jikesa22s.seeeeee Veneer work, canes, 
[amoede Costa............ Takes. fine polish. 2)emeeeeeeee Cabinet work, cooperage. 
Meamo earbonero ........... Hard, brittle, non-decaying. Veneer, musical instruments, umbrella han- 
' Black at heart, same as ebony. dles, ete. 
Granadillo od --Very fine .<. 32) Castanets, cabinet work, instruments. 
Guayacan BRIE Ros a ee Very hard and resistant........ Machinery, mortars, water vessels, ete. 
ee Said to petrify in water........ Posts, crossties, piles, etc. 
Mabon de Sabana ......... Hard, resembling ebony........ Underflooring, water wheels, ete. Also 
used as fuel. 
Mangle colorado ....... .-.Red, hard, non-decaying in Wharves, etc. Also as fuel. 
water. 
Mangle prieto ............. Black, hard resistant. Ship construction, wharves, all hydraulic 
works. 
Quebracho «+e-e+--.......-Said to petrify in water........ Pilework, posts, crossties, etc. 
sapien Wuysitoma............ Durable, adapted to naval con- Cane mills, cart hubs, naval work. 
struction. 
Yaiti ’ a E 
ZUR 6 Aho 7 ane oS ee Strong and durable............ Crossbeams, fences, stakes, etc. 
