CATALOGUE OF THE TIMBERS OF THE WORLD 49 



from defects were forthcoming, it would be superior to any other pencil 

 cedar yet imported, as it is of a closer texture. The quality is exceedingly 

 good, and it takes a sharp edge for either surface or mouldings. 



When cut on the quarter the medullary rays are strongly marked, 

 as in beech, and the surface of the wood presents a sUghtly lustrous 

 appearance. The concentric layers are marked by thin dark lines. The 

 pores are exceedingly small although numerous, and the medullary rays 

 are clearly and strongly marked. 



Cedar, Central American. Cedrela odorata, Linn., and probably other 

 species of Cedrela. Weight, 27 lbs. 9 oz. and 33 lbs. i oz. Honduras, 

 Mexico, Cuba, West Indies, Panama ; Central America generally. 



The wood is imported in square hewn logs and in the round, ranging 

 from 6 to 40 feet in length and over, and from 10 to 40 inches in squares. 

 The timber from the different sources above-mentioned is sufficiently 

 alike to classify it under one description. Logs from Honduras or 

 Tobasco are generally larger and supply the largest dimensions ; those 

 from Jamaica and Cuba provide the smallest. 



The wood is light red in colour, generally straight in the grain, open, 

 porous, soft towards the heart, of light weight and rather brittle. Some 

 logs, however, are beautifully figured, with wavy, curly, and mottled grain, 

 which resembles the roe and mottle and fiddle-mottle figure found in 

 mahogany. It exhales a very fragrant agreeable scent which is remarkably 

 persistent. 



The wood works easily, shrinks only moderately, and stands exceed- 

 ingly well when seasoned. On account of its reliable nature and Ught 

 weight it is valuable for veneering on for fitments for yachts, especially 

 when built for racing, where it has been used both for plain or decorative 

 work, the more figured wood, either soHd or veneered, giving exceedingly 

 handsome effects. It is also used for pattern-making, modelling, carving, 

 and many kinds of furniture work, especially for the hnings and drawers 

 of cabinets, where the fragrant scent is agreeable, and is a protection 

 from the attack of moth or any insect. The longer trees are much sought 

 for to provide boards for planking dingheys, racing and pleasure boats, 

 where the comparative strength and Hghtness of weight provides all that 

 is required. It is used for wide panels for railway coaches, especially 

 where curved, as it is pliable and can be safely bent for this purpose with- 

 out splitting ; also for the arms of telegraph signals on railways, where 

 this wood appears to be the most suitable to stand the required strain. 

 Formerly the figured wood, and especially the curls or crotches, were 

 much used in veneers for panels for wardrobes, bookcases, and cabinets ; 

 in a great many of the panels for tallboy clocks beautifully figured cedar 



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