144 THE TIMBERS OF THE WORLD 



of the State of Colombia. Fonnerly they were only imported to Havre, 

 but latterly London and Liverpool have received supplies. The logs 

 are mostly in the round, but occasionally are hewn with waney edges, 

 in large squares, ranging from i8 to 48 inches. The wood is always 

 very much split and damaged, which is possibly due to the logs being 

 dashed with some force against rocks or other obstacles in their journey 

 down the rivers to the coast, for they are usually cut from one to two 

 hundred miles inland. As has been said, the timber greatly resembles 

 mahogany in colour and is often beautifully figured. It works well, takes 

 polish readily, and when well seasoned neither shrinks, warps, nor cracks. 

 The wood can be distinguished from genuine mahogany by the 

 numerous thin, light lines joining the rays at right angles, and thus 

 forming a close network with rectangular meshes. 



Mahogany, Costa Rica. Weight, 42 lbs. 15 oz. Costa Rica. 



The timber from this zone is imported in straight, short, hewn square 

 logs of about 8 to 20 feet and over ; they are generally short in length 

 and are 10 to 30 inches square. It is of a bright red colour, has a firm 

 texture, and is hard and close-grained ; the pores are often filled with a 

 white chalky substance. In character it is like the Cuban wood, but is 

 generally more straight-grained. The logs are very liable to heart-shakes 

 and galls, whUe rotten and defective places, in which burrowing worms 

 are found, are prevalent. 



The uses are the same as those of the Cuban wood. 



Mahogany, Cuba. Weight, 39 lbs. 11 oz. Cuba. 



This is imported in round logs with the bark on, also in hewn square 

 logs which are mostly straight, though some are bent and crooked, and 

 in sawn boards and planks. The logs are from 8 to 36 inches square, and 

 from 6 to 30 feet in length, though some are considerably larger. The 

 imported sawn timber is of small size and indifferent quality. 



The wood is generally of a hard, close texture, and is heavier than 

 any other mahogany except some of the Spanish wood. When first cut 

 it is of a light-red colour, but on exposure it rapidly darkens to a rich 

 deep red, which, with its glossy, transparent, and satiny surface, has a 

 most handsome appearance. A small proportion of the trees contain 

 black, gummy veins which, although not injurious to the wood, as in some 

 cases where the veins crack, yet appear unsightly. Others, again, develop 

 white chalky marks in the pores like the San Domingo wood. 



Many of the logs are beautifully figured or marked with wavy and 

 curly grain, which is variously termed splash mottle, roe and mottle, 

 fiddle-back, plum, snail, blister and cross-bar. 



Good well-figured logs command very high prices for veneers, the 



