60 TIMBER 
districts at the present time finds its way to the nearer 
and more convenient markets of the United States. 
The Tobasco wood has always been held in high 
estimation, especially by French consumers. The logs 
exported are generally of good dimensions, sometimes 
exceeding 36 in. square, well manufactured, and more or 
less straight : the wood is firm in texture and of good, 
rich colour, and is fitted for most purposes where length, 
strength, and the further noted qualities are needed. 
The quality of the shipments of late years has not 
however been so good as formerly, a softer, more porous 
wood having taken the place of the crisp, firm, and 
harder wood which came earlier. 
The Minatitlan and Tecolutla wood, common in the 
English market twenty-five or thirty years ago, was 
not comparable with the Tobasco in texture and firmness 
of grain, but was otherwise satisfactory. This wood, 
however, is now mostly directed to American markets. 
A certain proportion of Cedar logs are generally 
comprised in the shipments of mahogany that arrive. 
For this wood there is a general good demand, such 
logs as are long, straight, and of even grain being 
much sought after for boat-building purposes, inferior 
logs selling for cigar box and other work. 
Honduras.—The fine wood from this British posses- 
sion was known, it is believed, as early as the year 
1724. It was not until about the middle of the last 
century, however, that shipments of importance were 
regularly directed to the United Kingdom. Since then 
they have largely increased, and during the last fifty 
years have been one of the leading descriptions used 
by consumers. 
This mahogany is practically all shipped to the Lon- 
don market, and for all-round qualities, whether for the 
cabinet trade, for builders’ use, for the cutting of panels 
