290 TIMBER AND TIMBER TREES. [chap. 



A great many specimens of other woods growing in 

 the French colony at Guiana were also sent with the 

 foregoing; but as they were quite small pieces it was 

 difficult to judge of their fitness for employment in 

 architectural or other works. Probably before long 

 some of these may be supplemented by sample logs, 

 similar in dimensions to Nos. 2 to i8, and if so, a better 

 estimate may be formed of their commercial value. 



SANTA MARIA [Calophyllum Calaba) 



is found in Honduras, in Central America, but is not 

 considered to be abundant; and very little of it finds 

 its way to the markets of this country. It is of nearly 

 straight growth, and attains the height of 60 to 90 feet, 

 with a circumference of from 7 to 9 feet, yielding very 

 fine logs, measuring from 25 to 50 feet in length and 

 from 12 to 22 inches square. 



The wood is of a pale reddish colour, moderately 

 hard, has a clean fine straight grain, and is a little porous. 

 It is- generally free from injurious heart or star-shake, 

 has few knots, does not shrink much, and scarcely splits 

 at all in seasoning. It is easily worked, and may there- 

 fore be considered a very fair substitute for the plainest 

 Honduras or Mexican Mahogany. Some few years 

 since several cargoes of Santa Maria timber were brought 

 to the royal dockyards, and employed there for beams, 

 planking, &c., in ships ; and although it would seem never 

 to have been much in favour as a building wood, there 

 is good reason to think that in the absence of Mahogany 

 it might very well be used for cabin fitments, for furni- 

 ture, and many other purposes. 



This wood stands exposure to the weather remarkably 

 well, and is, I think, durable, since a parcel of about 150 



