xxv.] MAHOGANY. 175 



according to the situation in which it is grown ; that 

 which is produced on a firm soil and in exposed places, 

 and notably that grown in the northern district, being by 

 far the best, while the timber produced on the low moist 

 grounds is generally soft, spongy, and inferior. For the 

 most part, however, it is of a very plain character, with 

 uniformity of colour, although occasionally logs are found 

 with a waviness or curl in the grain, approaching to 

 figure ; and these, when worked up and polished, present 

 an appearance of great beauty ; such logs generally 

 realise, as in the case of Cuba Mahogany, a much higher 

 price than logs of the ordinary description, which fetch 

 at present market prices (1875) about 4^d. to 6d. per 

 foot superficial of I inch. About two-thirds only of the 

 actual cubic contents, calliper measure, are, however, 

 brought to sale account. The remainder or difference 

 being allowed for the waste of saw kerfs, shakes, defects, 

 centres, &c., in the conversion of the log into board, &c.* 



The economical uses of this wood are very numerous, 

 and it is much sought after by shipwrights, carpenters, 

 cabinet-makers, turners, and others, who employ it for a 

 great variety of purposes. It has been largely used in 

 ship-building for beams, planking, and in many other 

 ways as a substitute for Oak, and found to answer ex- 

 ceedingly well. It is also used extensively for cabin- 

 fitments ; and in its application to the arts there is 

 scarcely any limit to its usefulness. 



The Honduras and other descriptions of Mahogany 

 have only about ^ to I inch of alburnum or sap-wood 

 on them, and being remarkably free from defect, the loss 

 in conversion is comparatively small. 



* This mode of measurement -applies equally to all the other descriptions 

 of Mahogany, and to Cedar. 



