bor lands. There sre a number of tracts in panama that have fre¬ 
quently changed ownership, and in some instances the purchasers 
were under the impression that they acquired property with im¬ 
mense quantities of mahogany of mahogany and mahogany-like woods. 
Dealers in foreign hardwoods and others familiar with 
the tropical American forests receive a number of requests for in¬ 
formation as to the present or possible future value of this wood 
in the American markets. The question is a difficult one and ean 
not be answered satisfactorily to all concerned. It must be said, 
hot;over , that at present there is no market for this wood, and it 
would be a formidable undertaking to find s use for it now. Some 
of our native hardwoods were considered SO years ago as almost 
useless, but today they are in great request, end the seme' per¬ 
haps may be said of ebpevo some day. A few foots relative to 
the character, growth, and distribution of the tree end the nature 
end local uses of the wood nay be of value to those interested in 
espsvo from an investment point of vitro, and from these can pos¬ 
sibly draw their own conclusions. 
Espavo or eepavel belongs to the cashew family of plants 
and is botanicolly known as Ansosrditun rhinooarpus . One of the 
unfortunate trade names of the wood of this tree in bay mahogany. 
but it oust not be confused with the softer grades of true maho¬ 
gany obtained in the lowlands of Mexico , which is also called bay 
✓ 
mahogany. It is occasionally referred to so false or es ;ave rashog 
any, Pasega mahogany, or Panama mahogany. In western Venezuela, 
whore this tree grows very abundantly, it is commonly known as 
caracoli or action. The da glish speaking people in the region 
where this tree is found cal it the giant cashew tree, because it 
is one of the largest and most familiar trees; the fruit resembles 
very closely that of the true cashew or maraaon tree which was into 
