598 Forestry Quarterly. 



used for construction purpose. Yacal is a general all-round con- 

 struction timber where contact with the ground is necessary, and 

 because of this is much sought for railroad ties, paving blocks, 

 and house posts. It is also used as bridge timber, in various 

 parts of ships, and for construction of houses. It is estimated 

 that there is more standing timber of the yacals in the Islands than 

 all the other so-called standard durable timbers put together. 



Substitutes for Mahogany 



The term "mahogany" is here used in its broadest sense. The 

 true mahogany, the product of Swietenia mahagoni, does not oc- 

 cur in the Philippines. However, the narra family contains a 

 group of woods of more or less brilliant color and beautiful grain 

 which are capable of taking a high polish, and which cannot be 

 excelled as substitutes for mahogany. These are narra, tindalo, 

 ipil, acle, and banuyo. Narra varies in color from a light yellow 

 to a brilliant red. It is moderately heavy, moderately hard to 

 hard, has a rather coarse more or less twisted grain, and is very 

 durable. It is practically the same as the padouk of India, and is 

 sometimes sold as Philippine mahogany. It is used principally 

 for fine furniture, interior finish, doors, flooring, and windows. 

 Large one-piece table tops come from the buttressed roots. Tin- 

 dalo has a saffron red color, which becomes darker with age. It 

 has a fine, more or less straight grain, and is heavy, hard and 

 durable. It is used in fine furniture and cabinetmaking, and is 

 one of the best timbers for hardwood floors, stairways, and in- 

 terior finishings, where beautiful expensive woods are required. 

 Ipil, while used principally in the Philippines for construction 

 work in contact with the ground, is nevertheless a wood of the 

 mahogany grade. It is very durable, heavy and very hard, has a 

 fine, sometimes twisted, grain, and is one of the most satisfactory 

 woods for fine furniture and cabinetmaking. Banuyo is moder- 

 ately heavy and moderately hard, is golden brown in color, with a 

 fine grain. It is used for fine furniture, cabinetmaking, carriage 

 bodies, and carving. While none of the above are found in large 

 quantities, there is a sufficient supply to meet a small steady de- 

 mand. All could probably be worked into veneers. 



Besides the above, there are a number of other woods that are 

 good substitutes for mahogany. Palo maria, sometimes called 



