MAHOGANY. 



(Swietenia, Khaya, Soymida, Cedrela, etc.} 



There are three principal mahogany trees: the Central 

 American or true mahogany (Swietenia maJiogani'}, the African 

 mahogany (Khaya senegalensis}, and the Indian mahogany 

 (Soymida febrifngd). There are also minor species called 

 mahoganies.* American mahogany was originally divided by 

 dealers into Spanish and Honduras wood, the former from the 

 then Spanish-American possessions. A considerable supply 

 now comes from Mexico, taking name from port of shipment; 

 as, Frontera, Laguna, Santa Ana, Tecolutla, Minatitlan, and 

 Tonala, desirability being much in the order named. The 

 African field is the latest and probably most important, very 

 large quantities of its wood being distributed through English 

 markets. 



Mahogany, placed among the second class of ship-building 

 woods by Lloyd's Register, was once used to some extent in 

 place of oak in naval architecture, but is now so greatly valued 

 for decoration as to be employed for little else, save occa- 

 sionally the hulls of small pleasure craft. The decorative value 

 is due to a combination of beauty, working qualities, and 

 durability. Beauty is influenced by both grain and warm red 

 color. The latter is generally light, and although it subse- 

 quently darkens, in most cases, to a characteristic and rich 

 reddish-brown, is usually induced immediately by stains. The 

 grain is not only beautiful of itself, but is such as to receive 

 those stains and finishing processes thus demanded. Different 

 localities produce woods varying in tint and grain. Individual 



* Mahogany and mountain mahogany are names applied in the United States 

 to Rhus integrifolia, a native of Lower California and the coast islands, and to 

 the following species of the Rocky Mountain Region (Idaho to Arizona): 

 Cercocarpus ledifolius, Used for fuel. 



Cercocarpus parvifolius, Used for fuel. 



Cercocarpus breviflorus, Heavy, hard, not common. 



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