USEFUL WOODS OF THE ISLAND OF DOMINICA. 383 



beside sugar and rum. The collection, however, is far from being complete, 

 in consequence of the late period at which the Colonial legislature deter- 

 mined on rendering assistance, by a pecuniary grant. 



The number and variety of woods produced by so small a country, may 

 possibly be considered a point of some interest. Our lofty mountains 

 indeed, afford different climates according to the elevation. The deep 

 ravines and sheltered vallies, the low-lying lands on the windward and 

 leeward exposures of the island, and the high mountain sides and ridges, 

 furnish different varieties of trees and plants. 



Our best land-wood trees are chiefly found on the leeward side of the 

 island, where the heat is greatest, and less rain falls. Such as the Courbaril, 

 satin-wood, mastic, bully tree, &c, but hard- wood trees are found growing 

 in all parts of the island, both near the coast, high upon the mountain sides, 

 and in the vallies of the interior. The most valuable of our hard-wood 

 trees, are probably furnished by the N. 0. Sapotacese. In this order are the 

 Bully tree, Mastic, (?) varieties of " Bris " Balate, &c. But the timber most 

 generally used in this country for all ordinary purposes, comes from 

 " Lauracse," in which order are found many different kinds of valuable 

 timber trees. For the most part the timber of this family is easily worked ; 

 the trees are of moderate size, and growing in all parts of the island. They 

 are cut down and sawn into boards, &c, on the spot, or split up into 

 shingles and staves. 



The vallies and ravines in the interior of the country, are covered with 

 extensive forests of valuable timber trees. The difficulty in the way of 

 these forests being made useful to the country, is the want of roads to open 

 up the interior. Many of the specimens sent are imperfect, from the wood 

 being green at the time it was worked. I regret there was no time for 

 preparing specimens of all the fibrous substances this island produces, as in 

 that respect I do not suppose we are much behind any part of the West 

 Indies. 



1. Coubaril, or Locust-tree, (Hymencea Courbaril). Valuable timber 

 tree of large size ; wood dense and close-grained ; used for making all kinds 

 of furniture ; formerly employed in house-building ; now too valuable for 

 that purpose ; resembles mahogany, but is much harder ; not durable in 

 the ground. 



2. Satin-wood or Yellow Sanders. Noyer, Fr. Large tree ; beautiful 

 and valuable wood ; becoming scarce in the country ; now chiefly used as 

 a furniture wood ; formerly in house-building and mill work ; very durable 

 in the ground. 



4. Mastic. Acouma, Fr. Very large tree ; reaches to 6 feet in diameter ; 

 used lor mill work and in house-building ; available for almost every kind 

 of work ; one of the most valuable woods of the island. 



4. Bully tree. Balata, Fr. Very large and valuable timber tree ; attains 

 a diameter of 6 or 7 feet ; used for all kinds of mill work, rollers, beams, 

 water and balance wheels, sills, cogs, plates, &c. ; also applied to housework. 



