TRUE MAHOGANY. 5 



It is probable that the cultivation of mahogany will never attain 

 commercial importance outside of the tree's original habitat. While 

 it will grow under widely varying conditions of soil and moisture, 

 it seems to do best within the comparatively narrow limits of its 

 natural range. Moreover, the relatively slow growth of Swietenia 

 mahagoni, which produces the better wood of the two, is an added 

 handicap. In India, it is true, where conditions are exceptionally 

 favorable, the trees of both species often grow very rapidly, but it 

 is not believed that the planting of mahogany on a commercial scale 

 in India would be a profitable undertaking. Both species are planted 

 extensively as shade trees throughout tropical America. The large- 

 leafed species produces a very dense crown and is regarded as one 

 of the best shade trees; the small-leafed species has an open crown 

 and, like the famous saman tree (Pithecolohiurn saman) of Central 

 and South America, forms a splendid tree for the lawn or park 

 where dense shade is not desirable. 



GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE WOOD. 



Mahogany is moderately strong and tough, quite uniform in struc- 

 ture, and may be either moderately open grained or close grained, 

 depending largely on the locality where grown. The wood seasons 

 with comparatively little warping and checking, and once seasoned 

 shrinks and swells very little. This property of holding its shape, 

 together with its handsome grain and figure, makes it one of the 

 most satisfactory cabinet woods and causes shipbuilders to prize it. 

 It takes a beautiful natural-wood polish, is well adapted to stains, 

 and has the particularly valuable quality of taking glue well. The 

 wood is also being used now to some extent for pattern work. Ow- 

 ing to the small size of the pith rays, quarter sawing adds little to 

 its figure. The grain of high-grade mahogany is often very odd and 

 pronounced, and in this form it is the most valuable cabinet wood 

 known. For the most part it is cut into very thin veneer by a 

 special machine to avoid waste. Veneer of great beauty is obtained 

 from crotched pieces which are taken from the tops of trees where 

 the limbs join the trunks. This form is known on the market as 

 " crotch mahogany." 



Mahogany is one of the most popular furniture woods, chiefly be- 

 cause of its lasting qualities, color, and grain, and its freedom from 

 warping, shrinking, and checking. Of all the cabinet woods now 

 on the market, however, mahogany shows the greatest variation in 

 quality. Even woods from the same locality do not grade alike. 

 Beauty of grain is the chief property by which mahogany is graded, 

 though closely allied to this is figure or pattern. (Plates I and 

 II.) Size is also a factor in determining the value of mahogany 

 lumber. 



