180 



It is a curious fact that injury to the stem of a tree often, induces 

 changes in the sap-wood, similar to those characterising the formation 

 of heart-w< od : for instance, in the East Indian Ebony the sap wood 

 becomes black and hard like the heart wood, — the injury excites and 

 hastens a process which usually takes place slowly. 



The so-called " Bastard Wood" may be a case where, for some reason 

 or other, the wood has not yet commenced the process of transformation, 

 and it may be possible by some means to set up a change which would 

 convert a worthless into a valuable tree. 



Esq., to J. Allwood, Esq. 



Kingston, 14th July, 189G. 



Dear Mr. Allwood, 



I feel obliged for your kind note of even date, and I gladly submit to 

 you my opinion as to the cause of the rather unexpectedly heavy fa 1 of 

 the market value of logwood 



The cause I think, is chiefly to be attributed to over production, not 

 so much in Jamaica, but in oiher West India and Central American 

 Logwood Countries. 



I ntil very recently Jamaica used to be the only country exporting 

 the roots of the Logwood Tree, as in the other countries the want of 

 good roads and the rather difficult labour of digging prevented any ma- 

 terial competition. 



This monopoly appears to have been removed by Monte Christo (St. 

 Domingo) where the supplies of Logwood got exhausted, and the atten- 

 tion had to be turned to the export of the roots. This export has gra- 

 dually and considerably increased affecting the value of Jamaica Roots. 



The Government of Hayti has recently reduced the export duty on 

 Ro ts. aud since that, the exports of Roots from Hayti are constantly 

 increasing. 



In Yucatan new districts have recently been opened at the west 

 coast of that country with enormous wealth of Logwood of a very fine 

 and rich quality. 



I ampeche has also exported much more than hitherto and these latter 

 two countries supply a w od with such magnificent and rich dye, that 

 none of the Jamaica wood can favourably compete with it. 



This over production, together with a temporary smaller demand at 

 home, has overstocked the markets, and as the expenses on Logwood 

 (unlike Coffee or other produce) render it an immovable merchandise it 

 always means a heavy loss, to be forced to land a cargo unsold as had to 

 be done recently for want of any demand 



The owner of the cargo as a rule, remains at the mercy of the 2 or 3 

 buyers, that may be at that particular port, where the cargo was 

 landed. 



Several exceptionally cheap sales were easily enforced in that way, 

 which helped not < nly to bring down the market quotation, but to 

 create an anxiety to sell at any price, before the lay days for waiting of 

 the ships in the Biitish Channel had expired and necessitated the 

 landing of the cargo. 



With the stocks that have now accummulated in Europe there seems 

 to be little chance of any improvement of the market during this pre- 



