The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-05-20
STATE OF CUBA'S FORESTS.
THE ISLAND NOT WELL WOODED. w
JOHN CLIFFORD FINDS.
Planting OF Eucalyptus Trees TO supply shade
and Charcoal Suggested Need Of Fence
Material - Mahogany supply About TX.
h~austed-Cuba's chief Varieties Of Trees.

Planting Of Eucaly Plus Trees 10 Supply Shade
and charcoal Suggested Need of Fence
Material Mahogany supply About TX.
h~austed-Cuba's chief Varieties Of Trees.
Unusual information about Cuba is contained
In an article In the May number of the FYr-
ester, written by John Clifford, tho founder Il
that magazine. 1t is called Forest toudi-
tons in Cuba" and il the result Of the writer's
journeys across the island from 'ionfucgos
to Havana, coasting along the southern shore
and making short excursions into the ccc.~s.y
around Havana and Santiago, II viii snr.
prise many persons to learn from Mr.. Giford
that Cuba Is not a well-wooded island IN suite
of the statements made in many magazine
and newspaper articles regarding the lslards
wealth Of valuable forest trees. According 10
Mr.. Clifford the marketable timber IL being cut
So rapidly that within "A few years 1t will 10
extirpated. and about half of his article Is do
voted to suggestions, not for forest cutting.
but for forest planting. He writes:
Il have been surprised TO find so much Of
this island bare. Even in the mountainous
districts the forest appeared TO me sparcea ard
thin. Immense areas have been cleared In
times past for cane and tobacco plantations,
and almost everywhere on uncultivated land
fires have been set to improve the pasturaea
Cuba has always been a great cattle country
and this no doubt, at least In part. accounts
for the lack of luxuriant forests in comparison
with Jamaica and other tropical districts
Owing TO the lack Of proper means Of commlI.
~nlcation there is a lack of wood in certain dis
tricts, especially the central portion. Wood
and charcoal are in great demand for fuel:
fence material is scarce; and even small poles
which are extensively used in driving tobacco.
in the field, are expensive. The planting q
forests in Cubn would pay rs well, | believe, "a
elsewhere on the Western Continent"
Charcoal Is the fuel most in Use in Cuba
and is in fact the only practicable fuel for gem
eral cooking In the native houses as coal or
wood emits too much heat TO be bearahlc dur
ing the hot season. Mr.. Clifford suggests
the planting of the eucalyptus tree in groves
TO be used for the production of charcoal and
believes that money thus invested would bring
in good returns as the demand for charcoal
Is great. He believes also that under present
conditions it would pay to export charcoal
IRON the Gulf coast 10 cuba. Another Press
ing need of the island is good fence material
There has always been a heavy demand i"r
tins, particularly, for fence, post material
than ever now that cuba Is about to wake UP
commercially. To-day the fences are almost
entirely of barbed wire nropped and patched
VIII Ufl'1tE'I'buN SUCKS anu IIHSHN'"'''
Chestnut, locust and %logwood, thinks Mr..
CHORD, could be planted 10 advantage in CuhA
and used a. fence material
Considerable quantities Of mahogany. cedar
and lignum Vita have been shipped. from
Cuba in the past and the large number Of struc-
lures on the ISLAND containing mahogany shows
plentiful than II IS now. Both the mahogany
and the cedar trees are far aTart and are be-
coming rarcr every year; so that Mr.. clifford
predicts their di~aul carance in a short time.
in the MOUNTAINS HEuum vitae i still abln-
dant and 4 exported largely, being used for
IuIlcys, blocks, croqu't malets and balls and
many other purposes, In the forests Of west
ern Cuba the Cuban pine Is abundant and g
much used for timber. The finest tree ~
cuba Is tho royal palm which grows In fields
and plantations, and along water course,
without which the Cuban would be hard Tut
10 II for building material. II IS not n very
ornamental wood, but i peculiarly fitted for
Of shutting ont the heat. and houses built y
are cool. The nuts Of the tree are good
iood for swine. The mango is rather common
ana lis run l. very ocular with the nnily"s
who eat il 50 ipordiEHtely that mango belly
+ a recognized, allment all over III" island,
not dangerous but unsightly, as il causes a
remarkable and ridiculous dis,cntion of no
abdomen, particularly in children. The mango
Is a splendid shade tree. Another maenlf-
cent shade tree j. the Ceiba or silk cotton tree,
but i is worthless in any other sense as tie
wood is too soft for use. The great coitl
tree under which IN" surrender Of tho Sranl,h
commander was received near San Juan HI,
Mr.. Clifford notes. has been so chipped and
hacked by souvenir vandals that there vas
danger Of II being destroyed and now 2 harl'd
wire fence protects il, In the cities the COM
mon shade trees are the s. anish laurel tie
heetwood, Ficus Indicd, which is the sacred
Bo-trc" Of India, and is something like n rof-
lar though not 50 tall and maicstically erect
the West indian almond. which is not an almond
at all: and the sand-boX tree which has the
peculiar trait of exploding it's fruit with q sharp
Because Of this the natives call il the monkey 3
dinner bell. as they say that at tho sound -
me report the monkeys rush in from all Sid"s
TO eat the delicate seeds.
More shade trees are needed In Cuba Nj CT
iord says, t"r the good Of the cr"ls MANY
trop,cal products, such as chocolate, con .
Mr. clifford advocates tho planting Of "uCu-
lynt,pss groves for shade This tree he thinks.
Not only would It furnish the desired shade
and supply material for charcoal and '"ro"7.
but would prevent malaria and imurny" -
health conditions of the island The rucal, rts
is called The fever tree. ferausc Of Is absorption
Of malarial and other unhealthtul influences.
here ar" some eucalyptus trees now growing
the climate is unhealthful. and says that II anv
such conditions Of Nth existed In our northern
cities rs have existed in Cuban cities .ePld"m.'-
would have been more frequent and moro severe
with rs than they have been in cuba Almost
everything, Mr. Oxford thinks. could he grown
TT Is peculiar that northern plants. such n,
IRISH potatoes and other vegetables. grow We!
her" by H." side Of bananas, piu"aplIc~ and
other 'rop,cal plants The soil Of 'rha j, o.,
such n nature that everything can bo ra.-"t
easily and In abundance. II is in need Of ouor-
g"llc gardeners and fruit growers II needs or-
chhrds and forests | have no doubt hu' Nat
olives. grapes, English walmuls. oranges, TrjIc~,
choColat" and hundreds Of other lUii's u0y -
easily grown thcre. What * needed IA tUha .
an experimental station and n botanic garden Z
such ~ exists in Jamaica. where plant Of z
k'nq~ from c~v"ry where may W" tested hanlS'
IN tins line Cuba Is cRpahl" of almost Nm'i'-a
possibilities. II would he an r%NctIl"ui u.0'"
lbr Northern AtHIgnf. 10 va for -tuIN |I-f ~
Europeans 70 TO Bultrnrorg in JaVG IN tu''.
tls' tropics are biological headquarters, Y '"fa
CrorIthing Is intense. where rlnnr ply .Ip."a',
~" basis of forestry. agriculture and l.''.
culture, may hc studied 10 tho best adyaUtasc.'
Suspended In Court b, His Queue.