724 AMERICAN FORESTRY 



actually suitable as substitutes. At one America which yield timber locally es- 



time the American birch was often teemed for purposes similar to that for 



palmed off upon the unsuspecting pur- which mahogany is used, 



chaser. This wood, however, is only The wood of a number of species of 



likely to be mistaken for mahogany Euralyptus has been used in place of 



after it has been carefully stained and mahogany, especially in the form of 



polished. Other native woods occa- veneer, for it can be handled most ad- 



sionally substituted are cherry, moun- vantageously in this condition when it 



tain mahogany, Cercocarpus ledifolius is to be used for furniture. When the 



Nutt., and loblolly bay, Gordonia lasi- woods of certain species of Eucalyptus 



unthus (Linn.) Ellis. Importers have are carefully stained and highly pol- 



tried to palm off a great many other ished they present a very pleasing ap- 



woods from all over the world. Among pearance and resemble mahogany very 



them are several species of Cedrela, to closely. 



which belongs Spanish cedar, more From India, Burma, and the Philip- 



commonly known as cigar box cedar, pine Islands are imported the woods of 



so easily recognized by its characteristic several species of Pterocarpus, which 



odor. Although cedars are as a rule are often called mahogany, and fre- 



somewhat lighter in weight than ma- quently sold as such. These woods are 



hogany, it is often difficult to tell them darker red, heavier, and coarser 



apart, even for experts. Cedrela fissilis grained than mahogany, and are less 



Veil., and Cedrela guiaiiensis A. Juss., likely to furnish suitable substitutes, 



from Central and South America, are Probably the most recent attempt on the 



high-class woods. Cedrela toona Roxb., par t o f an importer was to place on the 



from the Philippine Islands, Sumatra, mar ket a so-called Colombian mahog- 



and southern Asia, is highly esteemed anV) botanically known as Cariniania 



as a wood_ suitable for furniture and iformis Mier a member of the or _ 



interior finish, and could be used m Lec ,, thidacecc , Although this wood 

 place of mahogany with very little cause 



for complaint on the part of purchasers. Possesses characters almost exactly like 

 There are other woods belonging to the those of true mahogany, the two spe- 

 same family (Meliaceze) as the true ma- cies are not closely related, but belong 

 hogany, that resemble it even more than to two entirely different families, 

 those 'of the genus Cedrela. Three The wood known as Coccobola, corn- 

 African species generally known among monly used for making knife handles, 

 lumber dealers as African mahoganies is obtained from one or more species 

 are Khaya senegalcnsis A. Juss., K. O f the genus Lecvthis imported from 

 grandiflora Stapf , and K. purchii Stapf, Central America. "The wood is now be- 

 which resemble the true mahogany so coming scarce , but -manufacturers have 

 closely that it often requires an expert become SQ accustomed to a wood of 



to tell them apart. Other genera of description that they are looking 



this family, such as Trichina, Gnarea, . r , . . . . . r 



-j-r j ui \ r for another kind with similar properties, 

 So\nnida, Entandrophragma. and Car- 



apa, yield timbers that 'are difficult to namel y> a hard ' dark red wood that ma ? 

 distinguish from the true mahogany, be given a beautiful polish. There are 

 These genera have representatives a number that would serve the purpose 

 growing in the tropics and a number of equally as well as Coccobola. Chief 

 them have been but little exploited. among such substitutes may be men- 

 The timbers of several African spe- tioned several varieties of Eucalyptus, 

 cies of TrichiUa and Gnarea are now Diospyros (ebony), Dalbergia (rose- 

 extensively exported under the com- wood), Jacaranda, and Maclurriuni 

 prehensive trade names of African ce- (known also as rosewoods), Cccsalhiua 

 dar or African mahogany. There are (Brazil), Pterocarpus (variously known 

 several species of Gnarea in Central as barwood, camwood, or santalwood). 



