230 THE TIMBERS OF THE WORLD 



be much more general if it were better known. For floorings it should 

 be little inferior to maple, and it is one of the best woods for ply-veneer 

 work. Elwes and Henry quote Smith, English Flora (iv. 244) : "The wood 

 is much finer than that of any other British poplar, making as good 

 floors as the best Norway fir [pine] in appearance, and having moreover 

 the valuable property that it wiU not, like any resinous wood, take fire." 

 The pores are very small and obscure, and the medullary rays exceed- 

 ingly fine and difficult to detect even with the aid of the lens {12 x ). 



Prima Vera. Source unknown. Weight, 36 lbs. 6 oz. Central America. 



This wood is so httle known in the United Kingdom that it is practically 

 never named, nor is it reported upon in books of reference. It has, 

 however, been used very freely in the United States for furniture, paneUing, 

 and general decorative work, and for railway-car trimming. As a result 

 a small supply has come to London and Liverpool, and although apparently 

 not identified, it has been occasionally used in the panels of some railway 

 coaches on the principal railways. It is sometimes known in the United 

 States as " white mahogany," which is perhaps a better name than prima 

 vera, as in everything but colour it resembles mahogany. When first 

 cut, it is of a pale straw appearance, darkening with exposure to light and 

 air, to a warm yellowish-rose and much resembhng satinwood. The 

 trees are generally more or less figured, that is with a mottled or 

 roey grain, some being very strongly marked with splash mottle of the 

 best description. The wood stands well under all conditions and takes 

 a high finish from the tool. For a Ught room, prima vera may be 

 said to present, in general tone and colouring, a more artistic effect than 

 satinwood, although the wood itself is not of so fine a grain. The principal 

 defect is that nearly aU the logs contain small pin-holes caused by a 

 boring insect. These can, however, be remedied by a competent polisher. 



The pores, which are small, are rather obscure, but are marked by a 

 light ring or halo. The medullary rays are fine and not very distinct, 

 showing very faintly and sparsely on the tangential section. 



A very similar wood is supplied by a variety from the West Coast of 

 Africa, which perhaps is identical with that called in France " white 

 mahogany," the source of which is unknown. This wood is so similar 

 that, as far £is the general appearance is concerned, it is impossible to 

 detect any difference. There is reason to suppose that a different form 

 of polishing may be necessary, as is the case with all the mahoganies 

 from the West Coast of Africa (see notes on poUshing \^'est Coast of 

 Africa mahogany). In different specimens which present the same 

 general appearance there is a very marked distinction in the construc- 

 tion. Thus in one the pores are small and scarce and the medullary rays 

 clear and defined, while in another the pores are rather large and more 



