PRACTICAL ARBORICULTURE 205 



quoted in ridicuk by every antagonist of forestry, as showing the vast resources of 

 this country in timber. 



But Sargent was nearer right than any of his critics, and it would have been 

 well had the lumber men and government heeded his warning forty years ago. 



In wagon work both hickory and oak are noticeably higher in price from 

 increased difficulties in procuring supplies; of what will they be made a dozen 

 vears hence? 



MAHOGANY. 



Tropical America, Australia, the West Indies, Africa, India and the newer 

 American possessions produce mahogany. There are many species of forest 

 growths which are called mahogany, each differing in marked degree from others, 

 \et in the world's markets bearing this general name. In reality the various species 

 of trees, and in different localities, which find their way to market as mahogany, 

 are as different, botanically, as oak from pine or hickory. 



All of this wood comes from tropic regions, the trees being susceptible to 

 frost ; the jungles whence it is derived growing with vines, tropic underbrush, 

 myriads of valueless trees and plants, with here and there a desirable tree ; 

 together with the swamps and mountains of hot countries, the unreliable and 

 unskilled labor of such regions ; the difficult and tedious methods of transportation 

 to the coast, and expensive shipping to our shores from long distances, conspire to 

 make mahogany a costly timber which must be used with economy in the man- 

 ufactures. 



There is very little furniture made of solid mahogany, the great majority of 

 v/ork finished in these foreign woods being thin veneer, glued upon poplar or other 

 lower priced native timber. So that in event of falling back upon imported woods 

 as a fashionable finishing material there must yet be provided an equal quantity of 

 foundation wood, as has heretofore been used, in addition to the imported veneers. 



What will it be? Where shall it come from? 



It is well that many articles may be constructed of metals which have hereto- 

 fore been made from trees, and these will increase in number as the necessity 

 arises, yet how many articles in common use cannot be made from metals with any 

 degree of satisfaction. 



When the oak has passed away, of what will they be made? True, the 

 inferior woods will remain for some time, but under no circumstances beyond 

 thirty years as forests, unless immediate steps are taken to renew the supply. 



How many thousands of workmen now employed in the factories using wood, 

 will be obliged to change their occupation when the oak and other forests give 

 out? 



How vast the capital now employed in wood manufacture must be withdrawn 

 and reinvested in other lines of business during the first quarter of the present 

 century? 



Who can tell? 



l)ncs this concern the ordinary business man? The banker? The merchant? 

 The manufacturer? Does it concern the transportation companies of America? 

 Most assuredly it does, and it is full time the problem was given due consideration. 



