10 THECUBAREVIEW 



MAJAGUA 



Majagua {Paritiurn datum) has long been known as one of the most valuable and expen- 

 sive cabinet woods in the Cuban markets. Botanically, majagua is the same as the majagua 

 comun, majagua blanca, majagua azul, and mahoe or mountain mahoe. In the trade, it is 

 often referred to as blue mahoe. In Porto Rico and St. Domingo the tree and the wood are 

 known as emajagua excelsa. Of all the local and trade names given it, majagua is the one in 

 most common use. Majagua de la maestra is a term applied to the variety found chiefly on the 

 high mountains of eastern Cuba. Care should be taken not to confound the true majagua with 

 that of majagua de Cuba {Carpodipterus cubensis) which is l>otanically distinct. The latter is 

 a member of the linden family of plants to which the linden or lime tree belongs; the true 

 majugua is a malvaceous tree closely allied to the majagua de Florida (Thespecia popidnea), 

 a native of southern Florida. According to Dr. B. E. Fernow, majagua de Cuba, so common on 

 the dry slopes of eastern Cuba, is rendered conspicuous by its clusters of rose-colored flowers. 

 It forms a tree of two to three feet in diameter, furnishing a most durable hard, yellowish to 

 dark-red wood. This valuable tree fmds its best development in the mountains of eastern 

 Cuba where the trees \ ield on an average about 400 board feet of merchantable timber. Another 

 tree, though rarely found growing wild in Cuba, is called majagua de Cuba (Pavonia spicala), 

 but the wood is of a light red color and can be readily distinguished from the true majagua. 



The botanical distribution of majagua is not well known. It is most abundant in Cuba, and 

 has been reported from aD of the larger islands of the West Indies. There are a few points on 

 the Spanish main where it is found, but it occurs in commercial quantities only in Cuba and in 

 Jamaica. It is generally quite abundant in all moist woods, especially near the coast where it is 

 the most common tree yielding wood, not only for fuel, building and cabinet work, but also for 

 many other domestic purposes. While it thrives best on moist land, it is found frequently on 

 the well-drained mountain slopes and for this reason is often called mountain mahoe. The 

 wood produced on the uplands is generally considered to be of better quality than that from 

 trees grown in lowlands, because it is invariably harder, more durable and has a deeper and 

 more pleasing color. This grade is sometimes sold as maltese wood. In very dry localities 

 the tree usually remains rather small with a short crooked stem and useful only for fuel or for 

 making small turned household articles and handles. In more favorable situations the trees 

 grow to the height of 50 or 60 feet, with a long, clear stem ranging from 12 to 18 inches in dia- 

 meter at breast height. 



The sapwood is usually quite narrow and is nearly white; the heartwood is Ijluish-green, 

 sometimes tvu-ning brownish or yellowish with age. The wood of sound old trees has the appear- 

 ance of dark-green variegated marble. It is hard and heavy, weighing from 4.5 to 49 pounds 

 per cubic foot. According to Dr. J. T. Roig, chief of the Botanical Department of Cuba, its 

 specific weight is 0.74. It is very strong, tough, durable, close and straight-grained, and 

 seasons well without warping or splitting. Majagua is susceptible of a very high polish and pre- 

 sents a beautiful appearance, which cannot be said to resemble any of the- woods growing in 

 the United States. Some of the lighter grades of majagua resemble remotely the darker grades 

 of black walnut. When majagua is varaished and rubbed down, faint narrow transver.se Imes, 

 such as are scmetimes seen in the violin bows, appear, giving the wood a beautiful appearance 

 and distinguLshiiig it at once frcm black walnut. 



The wood of old trees is especiallj' \aluable, on account of its daikbluishcc'orandbeautiful 

 veining, strength, lightness and elasticltJ^ When particularly well marked it is one of the 

 most attractive and valuable of veneer woods to be emplcyed for furnitm-e, though it is gener- 

 ally used in the solid sta'e. It is admu-ably adapted for interior trim of fine hou.ses, and some 

 of the finest residences in Cuba are finished in blue mahoe. The wood is excelled for all parts 

 of wheels, of caries and carriages, shafts, frames of carts and agricultural implements, gun 

 stocks, tennis poles, cricket stumps, and on account of its great durability in water is used in 

 boat building and for making troughs. In Cuba it is used for the springs of the peculiar two- 

 wheeled carts called vclante. Another weU-kncAU use for this wood is for making fishing rods. 

 While it does not possess the strength of that of good white ash or hickory, it is stronger than 

 the red cedar {Jindperus virgiidana), which is occasionally used. H. P. ^^'ells, in his book on 



