NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



159 



and quality, are not in the most accessible situa- 

 tions ; and as it is always exported in large masses, 

 the transportation of it lor any distance over land is 

 so difficult, that the very best trees, both on the 

 island and the maLn land — those that grow in the 

 rich inland valleys — defy the means of removal pos- 

 sessed by the Creoles. Masses of from six to eight 

 tons are not very easily moved in any country ; and 

 in a mountainous and roclcy one, -where much atten- 

 tion is not paid to mechanical power, to move them 

 is impossible. In Cuba, the inhabitants have neither 

 enterprise nor skill adequate to felling the mahogany 

 trees, and transporting tliem to the shore ; and thus 

 the finest timber remains unused. 



The discovery of this beautiful timber was acci- 

 dental, and its introduction into notice was slow. 

 The first mention that was made of it, is, that it was 

 used in the repair of some ships at Cienfuegos, in 

 1579. Its finely variegated tints were admired, but 

 in that age the dream of El Dorado caused matters 

 of more value to be neglected. The mahogany-tree 

 is found in great quantities on the low and woody 

 lands, and even upon the rocks, in the countries on 

 the Avestcrn shores of the Caribbean Sea, about Hon- 

 duras and Campeachy. It is also abundant in the 

 Islands of Cuba and Hayti, and it used to be plenti- 

 ful in Jamaica, where it was of excellent quality ; 

 but most of the larger trees have been cut down 

 there. It was formerly abundant on the Bahamas, 

 where it grew on the rocks to a great height, and 

 four feet in diameter. In the earliest periods, it was 

 much used by the Spaniards in ship-building. When 

 first introduced b}' them, it was very dark and hard, 

 and without much of that beautiful variety of color 

 which now renders it superior to all other lumber 

 for cabinet works ; but it was more durable, and took 

 a higher polish with less labor. At that time it was 

 called Maderia wood, though it appears to have come 

 from St. Domingo (Hayti) and the Bahamas ; of 

 course it was wholly unknown to the ancients. 



The mahogany is a graceful tree, with many 

 branches, that form a handsome head. The leaflets 

 are in pairs, mostly four, and sometimes three, but 

 very rarely five ; the pair oi>posite, and without any 

 odd leaflet at the point ; they are smooth and 

 shining, lance-shaped, entire at the edges, like those 

 of the laurel, and bent back ; each leaflet is about 

 two inches aud a half long, and the whole leaf is about 

 eight inches. The flowers are small and whitish, and 

 the seed vessel has some resemblance to that of the 

 Barbadoes cedar ; hence some botanists have given 

 the name of cedar to the tree. This tree so far cor- 

 responds with the pine tribe, that the timber is ))cst 

 upon the coldest soils, and the most exposed situa- 

 tions. When it grows upon the moist soils and warm 

 lands, it is soft, coarse, spongy, and contains sap- 

 wood, into which some worms will eat. That which 

 is most accessible at Honduras is of this description, 

 and tlierefore it is onlj- used for coarser works, or for 

 a ground on which to laj' veneers of the choicer sort. 

 For the latter purpose it is well adapted, as it holds 

 glue better than deal, and when properly seasoned, 

 is not so apt to warp, or to be eaten by insects. 

 When it grows in favorable situations, where it has 

 room to spread, it is of much better quality, and puts 

 out large branches, the junctions of wliicli with the 

 stem furnish tliose beautifully curled pieces, of which 

 the choicest veneers arc made. When among rocks, 

 and much exposed, the size is inferior, and there is 

 not so much breadth or variety of shading, but the 

 timber is far superior, and the color is richer. The 

 last description is by far the strongest, and is there- 

 fore the best adapted for chairs, the legs of tables, 

 and other purposes, in wliich a moderate size has to 

 bear a considerable strain. Since tlie produce of 

 Jamaica has been exhausted, there are only two 

 iinds known : bay-wood, or that of the continent of 



America, and Spanish-wood, or the produce of the 

 Islands chiefly of Cuba and Hayti. Though the 

 bay- wood be inferior to the other, both in value and 

 in price, it is often very beautiful, and may be ob- 

 tained in logs as large as six feet square. It is, how- 

 ever, not nearly so compact as the other ; the grain is 

 apt to rise in polishing, and if it be not covered by a 

 water-proof varnish, it is very easily stained. It 

 also gives to the tool in carving, and is not well 

 adapted for ornament. Spanish-wood cuts well, 

 takes a fine polish, resists scratches, stains, and frac- 

 tures much better, and is generally the only sort 

 upon which much, or delicate, workmanship b"hould 

 be expended. The colors of mahogany do not come 

 well without the application of oil or varnish ; and if 

 the best sort be often washed with water, or long 

 macerated in it, they lose then- beauty, and become 

 of a dingy brown. The red is deepened by alkaline 

 applications, especially lime-water ; but strong acids 

 destroy the colors. When the surface is covered by 

 a colorless varnish, which displays the natural tint 

 without altering any of them, good mahogany appears 

 to the greatest advantage. 



The N. febrifuga, or East India mahogany, is a very 

 large tree ; it grows in the mountainous part of Cen- 

 tral Hindostan, rises to a great height, with a straight 

 trunk, which, towards the upper part, throws out 

 many branches. The head is spreading, and the 

 leaves have some resemblance to those of the Amer- 

 ican species. The wood is of a dull red color, not so 

 beautiful as common mahogany, but much harder, 

 heavier, and more durable. The natives of India 

 account it the most lasting timber that their country 

 produces, and therefore they employ it in their sacred 

 edifices, and upon every occasion where they wish to 

 combine strength with durabilitj- and elegance. 



The N. chloroxylon is chiefly found in the moun- 

 tains of the Sicars, that run parallel to the Bay of 

 Bengal, to the north-east of the mouth of the Kiver 

 Godovery. The tree does not attain the same size 

 as either of the former, and the appearance of the 

 wood is different. It is of a deep yellow, nearly of 

 the same color as box, from which it does not differ 

 much in durabilitj", and could bo applied to the same 

 purposes. . BERNARD KEYNOSO. 



April, 1850. 



For the New England Farmer. 



THE WtLD CHERRY FOR STOCKS-PEARS 



ON THE SHAD BUSH. 



Mh, Cole : I would inquire whether the English 

 cherrj- can be grafted or budded on the wild black 

 cherry with success. This is a common tree with us, 

 and it is a very tlirifty, hardy tree, grows to a largo 

 size, and lives to a great age. If the English cherry 

 can be worked on this tree with success, it would 

 become a source of great profit to us, in this cold 

 climate. I have for the lust five years, grafted and 

 budded the above-named tree, but without success 

 in every case. 



I have seen very thrifty, healthy-looking cherry- 

 trees budded on the wild red, or pigeon cherry. 

 Some of them are three years from the bud, and are 

 eight feet high, with a very beautiful top. I took 

 sonic good fruit from tliem last season. The wild 

 red, or j)igeon cherry, is also a very common tree with 

 us. It grows well in poor soils, or even in gravel, 

 where jiears had been grafted ; and I noticed in the 

 X. E. Farmer, grew remarkably well on the shad 

 bush or sugar pear, and also on tlR! wliite thorn. 



I will communicate one experiment to you. In 

 the spring of 1847, one of my neighbors took from 

 the forest some small mountain a>u, or round-wood, 

 as it is sometimes called ; he set them in his front 

 yard for ornamental trees. Soon after they were set, 

 he saw \l recommended iji some agricultural paper, 



