The principal product of Belize is mahogany, of which the average yearly amount exported for the past ten years has been 8,000,000 feet, or 20,000 tons, equal for the whole period to 200,000 tons, requiring 160,000 trees.
The natural, and particularly the vegetable resources of Belize are very great, and have been fully and ably set forth by Chief-Justice Temple. As we have seen, the establishment was first made for the purpose of cutting logwood, which for a long time was the chief source of wealth of the settlers, and which to this day is a considerable article of export. Not less than 4332 tons were exported in 1848. And in Dampier's day, is still retains a superiority in the market over that of St. Domingo and Jamaica. At the present day, however, mahogany has become the great staple of the country. The imporession that most of the mahogany has been cut is contradicted by Judge Temple, who affirms that there is sufficient wood, both on granted and ungranted lands, to supply the European and American markets for many years to come. The Belize mahogany is extensively used for ship-building , not less than 12,000 tons having been purchased by the British government and 3000 by the French government during the year 1856 for this purpose, at an average price of $55 per ton. The mahogany-tree requires a rich, dry soil, and the best is produced to the north of the River Belize, where the natural conditions are most favorable for its growth.* Besides the mahogany, there are also several other woods of great value, as rosewood, palmetto, dark and beautifully figured, Santa Maria, which possesses the properties of the Indian teak, caoutchouc or India-rubber, sapodilla, and innumerable others.
* "The qualities of mahogany which render it peculiarly fitted for ship-building are its lightness and bouyancy, its freedom from dry-rot, and its non-liability to shring or warp. The price of mahogany varies according to the size, figure and quality of the wood. One tree from the northern district, which was cut into three logs, sold for £1800, or 10s. per superficial foot of one inch." - Temple.