54 TIMBER 
another may contain ‘‘ broken roe,” another may be 
‘“‘ mottled” or marked with what is known as.“ fiddle- 
back wood,” a further log may be “ ocean-waved,” 
and yet another may be “ plum-figured.” Much 
skilful observation, gained by long experience, is at 
times necessary to detect signs of this figure in uncut 
logs, and considerable speculation is indulged in by those 
who wish to secure logs that show signs of figure. 
These figured logs after being opened are, if found 
sufficiently fine, generally sawn into veneer for the use 
of the cabinet and other trades, about twelve veneers 
generally being cut from an inch thickness of wood, 
if sawn by the veneer saw, while about forty or more 
may be produced if peeled off by the knife. High 
prices are always obtained when these figured logs are 
offered for sale, and it may prove interesting to note 
several which are perhaps records for a few of the 
different varieties. 
From facts given in the Timber Trades’ Journal 
of various dates, we find that the record price for a 
figured log was that obtained for one of St. Domingo 
wood, sold at public auction at Liverpool in the year 1876, 
This log made 30s. per ft. in the inch. Another log, 
this of Cuban wood, sold in London in 1912, takes second 
place, the log realising at public auction a sum of 
22s. 6d. per ft. Yet another from the Island of Cuba, 
sold in the sale-room in the following year, realised 
22s. per ft. 
It is also on record that a log, probably from a 
Tobasco district, was purchased in the early days of 
the mahogany trade for 21s. per ft., the total cost of 
the log having been about £1,000. It was cut into 
veneers of five to the inch, and sold to Messrs. Broad- 
wood, the celebrated pianoforte makers, a sample of 
the wood existing at the present time in the Museum 
