( 81 ) [MAH 



Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora). A tree indigenous to the South- 

 ern States of America. The wood is used for cabinet work 

 and interior decoration. 



Mahogany is possibly a native Indian " tree-name " that 

 came to the surface early fifteenth century after the 

 wood was handled by white-men as " cedar," which latter 

 made its appearance in Britain in the last half of the seven- 

 teenth century. This old name " cedar " clings to the soft 

 " Havana cedar." With the opening of the twentieth 

 century the trade largely changed its ground to West Africa, 

 where woods, somewhat related to the true Central American 

 mahoganies, abound : the characteristics are medium and hard 

 wood, red in colour. See " Havana Cedar " and " Fashion- 

 able Woods." 



The beauty of mahogany arises from its being cross- 

 grained, or presenting the fibres' endways or obliquely on 

 the surface these positions on the fibres, as well as their 

 different colours, give a clouded and mottled variety to the 

 surface ; and when some of the parts are partially trans- 

 parent, they give rise to a variety of lights and shades, as 

 the observer shifts his place, and reflect them in the most 

 varied manner, like the surface of a crystal. This overlap- 

 ping of the fibres, and their varied colours, are the occasion 

 of the singular appearance which the surface of a dining table 

 will present to two persons when seated opposite to each 

 other. From one side of the table portions will seem to 

 be quite light, but in the same seen from an opposite point 

 of view the contrary effect of deep shade will be produced ; 

 and this is the reason why no painter can correctly imitate 

 mahogany. (From The Mahogany Tree.) See also " Figure 

 in Mahogany." 



" Expensive Mahogany Specimen of the finest Honduras 

 mahogany in regard to figure and quality ever grown. 

 This single tree contained 390 cubic ft. broker's measure 

 (i.e., 4,684 ft. of inch), and was bought unopened by Messrs. 

 Broadwood for the manufacture of pianos at the price of 

 1,781, in 1849, supposed to be the most valuable tree in 

 the world, and after it was opened, 2,000 was offered for it 

 and refused." 



The above inscription is framed in the London office of 

 Messrs. Broadwood. 



Mahogany Measure. A special measure for mahogany which 

 allows 1 J in. in 12 in. width and thicknesses, and also makes 

 allowances in the length for defects in the log. The differ- 

 ence between Mahogany and Calliper measure usually runs 

 to from 25 to 30 per cent. 



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