174 TIMBER AND TIMBER TREES. [CHAP. 



horny with the St. Domingo Mahogany, very firm and 

 solid at the centre, fine and close in texture, and is gene- 

 rally veined or figured, or in curls ; hence it is very suit- 

 able for cabinet work in a small way and for turnery. 



THE HONDURAS MAHOGANY TREE (Swietenia). 



This tree, which was formerly found in great abun- 

 dance in the forests of Central America, near to Belize, 

 was first imported into England about 1724 or 1725 ; 

 the supply is, however, gradually failing ; but until quite 

 recently it has been brought in sufficient quantities, 

 annually, to meet the requirements of this country ; 

 it is therefore well known to commerce as a most valu- 

 able wood for furniture purposes. 



In contrast with the two species last mentioned, these 

 Mahogany trees of Honduras are very tall, and rise 40 to 

 50 feet to the branches, with a circumference of 6 to 9 

 feet ; they are generally straight, but are not unfrequently 

 of an irregular or crooked growth ; they yield very fine 

 logs of 25 to 40 feet in length, by 12 to 24 inches square, 

 and some are occasionally met with of much larger 

 dimensions ; but even this does not show, fully, the 

 length of useful wood in this noble tree, since we learn 

 from those engaged in the trade that each tree is cut 

 several feet up from the ground, and that in this way is 

 involved a very unnecessary amount of waste of a most 

 valuable article. 



The wood is red in colour, moderately hard, strong, 

 tough, flexible and elastic while fresh, but becomes some- 

 what brittle when thoroughly dry ; it has a smooth, 

 silky grain, works up well, and does not shrink or warp 

 much in seasoning ; it is liable, however, to split into 

 deep shakes, externally, if this process is carried on too 

 rapidly. The quality of the wood varies very much, 



