179 



LOGWOOD. 



The decrease in the price of logwood has led to questions being raised 

 as the reason for differences in the value of woods from Honduras and 

 Jamaica, and in the value of woods growing clo^e together on the same 

 estate. 



Two letters on this subject are given below, one from a merchant, the 

 other from Dr E. Bucher of the Dye Works, Spanish Town. 



Dr. Bucher's suggestion that there has been degeneration owing to 

 the mature trees having been cut down and the majority of the living 

 trees being the offspring of young immature trees, may very probably 

 be the true explanation. In the science of Forestry this is a point 

 which is carefully attended to Prof. Schlich in his Manual of forestry 

 says The source whence seeds has been obtained is of importance. 

 Although trees of all ages can yield excellent seed, as a general rule it 

 may be said that, the best seed is derived from trees which are in the 

 prime of lite, namely, healthy trees with a full crown, which have just 

 completed their principal height-growth. At the same time, soil and 

 climate, and especially the latter, are of greater importance than the 

 age of the trees." 



It is important therefore that on every logwood property a few ma- 

 ture trees should be retained for the purpose of obtaining seeds from 

 them, that nursery beds should be formed for the purpose of growing 

 seedlings from selected seed of mature trees, and that these seedlings 

 be regularly planted out at proper distances apart. 



Prof. Schlich points out that the trees from which seed is obtained 

 should not only be mature, but should be vigorous from good soil and 

 suitable climate. 



As the soil and climate of Honduras appear to be productive of good 

 wood, steps will be taken to obtain seed from thence for general distri- 

 bution here. 



There may be conditions in the life-history of the tree which favour 

 the deposit of the dye-material which makes logwood so valuable, and 

 it is advisable that tho«e interested should be constantly on the watch 

 to discover whether such conditions exist. 



In most trees there is a decided difference between the sap-wood 

 and the heart-wood, the sap-wood is that portion only of the wood 

 which is actually living. The water absorbed by the roots, containing 

 the mineral food from the soil, passes up through it alone, and 

 starch and other reserve materials are deposited in its pith-rays and 

 are not found in the heart-wood In some trees, for instance in Box- 

 wood and in some Maples, the whole of the wood is sap-wood, and 

 there is no portion of the wood which is different in character. In 

 some trees again, several kinds of Willows, etc , the heart-wcod 

 which is practically dead always, shows here a tendency to dec mposi- 

 tion. But generally the heart-wood owing to changes in chemical 

 and physical character becomes harder, of a darker colour, and 

 more resistant to destruction ; the incipient process of degradation has 

 taken place, but owing to this part of the stem becoming a place of de- 

 posit of excretionary substances, it has become endued with a lasting 

 character which directly benefits the plant in acting as a mechanical 

 support. 



