xxv.] MAHOGANY. 173 



THE ST. DOMINGO MAHOGANY TREE (Swietenid) 



is very similar in quality, but of much smaller dimen- 

 sions than that of Cuba, and only a few logs exceeding 

 8 to 10 feet in length, by 12 to 13 inches in the mean 

 thickness of their scantlings, are imported into the 

 markets of this country, although they are occasionally 

 seen in well-squared logs, measuring I5"x I5 // X25 / . 



The wood is of a deep red colour, hard, almost horny, 

 heavy, strong, and very solid at the centre ; it has a 

 good figured grain, and near to the top of the stem, 

 where it branches off, there is generally a rich and pretty 

 feather or curl in it, which is much prized by cabinet- 

 makers, especially when it is of sufficient length for 

 table-tops, or the fronts of drawers. It shrinks very 

 little, and rarely splits externally in seasoning. 



The average measurement of the logs imported is 

 only about 100 superficial feet of I inch ; while the 

 pieces brought over as curls are seldom more than about 

 12 superficial feet. Owing to the very small dimensions 

 of this Mahogany tree, there is scarcely any that is 

 available for architectural works, and the supply which 

 comes to us goes solely to meet the demand for cabinet 

 and ornamental purposes. 



THE NASSAU MAHOGANY TREE (Swietenia). 



This is even more dwarfish in character than the 

 Mahogany of St. Domingo, and the logs imported have 

 rarely exceeded 5 or even 3 feet in length, dressed into 

 neat squares of 6 to 12 inches, the latter size being, how- 

 ever, rare. The measured contents of these logs average 

 only about 8 to 9 superficial feet of I inch thick. 



The wood is deep red in colour, hard, heavy, equally 



