New-York tribune., 1898-11-27
BARE PHILIPPINE WOODS.
A GREATER VARIETY PRODUCED THAN
IN ANY OTHER COUNTRY.
VALUABLE HARD WOODS THAT COULD WIN A
PLACE IN ART AND COMMERCE OF
THE MOST IMPORTANT KINDS.

Manila October 20
The Philippine Islands produce a greater va
r1ety OF woods than any other country in the
world, and yet her forests have scarcely been
invaded by the agents OF commerce A limited
amount OF dye woods is taken. and the ma
tves cut for their own use, but the most valua-
bic woods OF the country are scarcely known
beyond the China coast No less than fifty
varieties Of hard woods that could speedily win
a place in art and commerce thrive throughout
the islands. but very few of them have ever
been offered in the markets Of the world China
and Japan are the only heavy buyers and If
samples Of the wood worked w have found
their way to Europe America their identity
az product OF the Philippines has. a rule.
been lost. There are several firms engaged in
the trade. and the amount Of local business is
quite large. but the trade does not seem to have
ever been worked up on the large scale that the
merit Of the woods demands.
The chief drawback seems to have been mac
cessibility for the best f the hardwoo forests
are in he less civilized localities and frs! costs
made it difficult t. compete with the other wood
producers Of the East. SIN. it is strange mat
the manifest superiority Of the finer woods Of
the islands has not won them recognition even
when allowance is made for the difficulties of
The fifty odd varieties run the scale Of color
from the Jet black ebony to the lighter shades
Of cedar and many II them offer much re-
sistance to the elements as steel Dozens "
them withstand the tcredo. so troublesome in
Pacific Coast waters and several OF them are
imperyious to the attacks OF the famous whte
ants Of the East White ants are viciously de-
structive. and but few substances besides metal
are capable of wiihstanding their attacks.
MoIAvE THE BEST KNOWN
The best known of the Philippine woods Is
nolaye II is a heavy brown wood. almost as
hard as steel The tercdo and white ant re-
spect it, and the trying dampness and burning
heat of its native country do not aflect IT, IL
has come into general use. and In Manila you
may see ii in use u railway sleeper. In pahel
in some drawing-room as the keel OF a snip. OF
fashioned into the figure Of some saint IN
church 1t possesses immense Strength. ana en-
ters very largely into the heavier building OPP
eratiOns but il seems almost unfortunate 'hd'
Il cannot be preserved for more artistic pur-
poses The interior of the jesuit church OF
Manila is finished in moave. and there are few
prettier pieces Of woodwO in the world Inc
carvings are by master hands and are of sur
passing beauty. The wood takes splendid
polish. The trees are nearly all deiecuVe Ill
that they have heart cup, but that does not
affect the wood.
DungOn is the substitute for molave when
tbe latter cannot be obtained in sufficient sizes
for the rl,rposes de, red. 1t is variety OF the
Hercula ainbiformis. and is generally known
as ironwood II is largely used for shpbuIiding'
although il is said that it doc" not resist the
,ere3o and is also used in building. 1t is rarely
put to finer uses.
ANTIPOLO LIGHT AND STRONG.
Antipolo. another of the woods that are largely
Mood possesses the attraction OF being iight ana
vo+ strong II is almost as imperviOus as mo-
i.vo and after being once well seasoned VIII
not warn however much it is exposed. Batiti-
nan in addition to being strong and tough. Is
sIso elastic and is excellent for furniture. 1t
closely resembles black walnut. and can be used
Tor all tho purnoses to which ak is put 1t is
freouently asserted to be the superior of teak
n requires seasoning to stand the climate, ana
meyer withstands the dampness Of the earth
Ebony has been found in quantities. ana IL mas
,ooo-na = matter Of belief that more thorough
exnIoratory work would lead to the discovery OF
larger forests of it. The small amounts that
h,,o heen found are Of excellent quality. IN
aobanuy is another of the extremely valuable
oo,s I, closely resembles battinan and like
I. 20 mn, 10 the uses of teak. Perhaps the pref
.,st wood Of the Philippines is nara. 1t Is
d ,argeiv in the manufacture of fine furni-
- r, oreatIv varies in color. running from
,,,, s,raw to A deep red. 1t takes high
,;, and its strength and hardness make IL
oorahle Of resisting the ravages OF Tune Inc
eros, niece of II in Manila is in taOle III 'he
,s,;t observatory The top Is OF one piece %