26 



Hardwood Record — Veneer & Panel Section 



February 25. 1918 



tropical America, and users are satisfied that the wood where the tree grows. If the winter is too cold for trees 



is genuine mahogany; so there is no dispute. But there to do any growing, the wood will show growth rings, as 



are different kinds, classes, or grades of American is the case in Florida and in most of the mahogany region 



mahogany. Some botanists insist that there are actually of Mexico; but if the trees grow the year round, as in 



two different species of it, the same as there are different warm regions of the torrid zone, there will be no visible 



species of oak in this country. That is probably true, rings of growth. 



but at any rate, there are different qualities of genuine The figures of mahogany are delicate, artistic, and 



mahogany, and to some extent they depend upon regions pleasing; they display none of the boldness of the figures 



of growth. There are Cuban, Santo Domingo, Honduras, of oak and ash; none of the sharp contrasts of Douglas 



and Balize mahoganies. These may all be one and the 

 same species, and the differences may be due to climate 

 and situation, such as altitude on mountains, wet or dry 

 soil, exposure to winds, frequency and abundance of 

 rains, absence or presence of winter frost, and other 

 conditions. Experience has shown that the very finest 

 mahogany comes from certain localities, while the same 

 species growing in another region is not quite so fine. 

 Dealers in this country often advertise that their stock is 

 Cuban, or Honduras, or Panama mahogany. They do 

 this because of the well known fact that those regions 

 produce very fine v^food. 



The regions which produce mahogany are well known, 

 but their exact boundaries are not always clearly defined. 

 The northern limit of this tree's growth is in southern 



fir and yellow pine; none of the variety of tones seen in 

 walnut. Usually it is mahogany's color rather than its 

 figure that constitutes its value, though the two are often 

 intimately associated, particularly in sliced veneers. 



Mahogany has some defects, but not many, and most 

 of these few are due to accident and are not inherent in 

 the wood. Logs that have been floated in brackish waters 

 in warm countries may be bored by teredoes, limnoria, 

 and other boring insects; but this injury is not common; 

 and some logs, particularly from Africa, may have cross- 

 breaks, a defect of growth which usually escapes notice 

 until the log is in process of converting into lumber or 

 veneer; but this defect is not common. Some mahogany 

 has a grain known as "woolly wood." When cut with 

 a knife or saw, the surface of the wood develops a fuzz 



Florida. Seventy-five years ago considerable quantities which is troublesome to the polisher. Trees of that kind 

 of it were cut there. West of south Florida, on the 



western side of the Gulf, the tree appears on the Mexican 

 coast, and it continues down the coast along southern 

 Mexico, Central America. Panama, and along the north- 

 ern coast of South America. The tree extends inland 

 from a few miles to a few hundred, and ascends moun- 

 tains to heights where winter cold sets a barrier against 

 its further extension. The tree is found now, or was 

 once found, in practically all of the larger islands of the 

 West Indies, but particularly in Cuba and Santo Domingo. 

 These two large islands have furnished as fine mahogany 

 as the world ever saw; but their supply is nearly ex- 

 hausted now. 



Valuable Qualities 



Many qualities contribute to mahogany's value, but 

 the chief are figure and color. Others are strength, hard- 

 ness, and weight. It is a strong wood, though several in 

 the United States are stronger. Some people judge a 

 w^ood's quality and value by its weight, and mahogany 

 meets that test well. Hardness enables a wood to take 

 and retain a fine finish, and in this mahogany is excellent. 

 It is worthy of mention that some of the English dealers 

 in early times discouraged the use of mahogany, because 

 of its hardness and the difficulty of cutting it; but with 

 modern machines and tools that objection has no weight. 



Some people suppose that the presence or absence of 

 annual growth rings proves whether or not a wood is 

 genuine mahogany. The rings furnish no such proof. 

 Some mahogany shows clearly-defined rings of growth, 

 other exhibits not the trace of a ring, yet both may be 

 true mahogany and first class wood. The presence or 

 absence of rings depends upon the climate of the place 



are rare. 



When the bad and the good qualities of mahogany are 

 compared, it is found that the bad are few and the good 

 many. It is a wood that know^s few changes of fashion. 

 It has held its place during two hundred years against all 

 comers and all rivals; and it is a remarkable fact that the 

 price has not changed much during two hundred years. 

 There is scarcely another commodity in the world's com- 

 merce that has fluctuated so little as mahogany in supply, 

 demand, and price. As a standard of value, it stands 

 side by side with gold, so far as its use extends. 



Ode to a Cat 



Tom-Fuzzy-tail-Me-row, Tom, 



When we were first acquaint, 

 I had bootjacks by the dozen, Tom, 



But now you know I haint. 



1 threw them all to bust your head 



But missed, 1 will allow; 

 And that is w^here my bootjacks went; 



Not one is left me now. 



Tom- Fuzzy-tail- Me- row^, Tom, 



Your tenor tones are high 

 At midnight*s holy, solemn hour 



Beneath the starry sky. 

 The bootjacks failed to land, Tom, 



Upon your classic brow; 

 For, otherw^ise, your blasted throat 



Would not be trilling now^. 



H. M. 



Nearly all imported woods may be occasionally made into 

 veneer, but those of real importance are mahogany, Spanish cedar, 

 Circassian walnut, satinwood, rosewood and ebony, 



