xxv. ] MAHOGANY. 175 
according to the situation in which it is grown; that 
which is produced on a firm soil and in exposed places, 
and notably that grown in the northern district, being by 
far the best, while the timber produced on the low moist 
grounds is generally soft, spongy, and inferior. i For the 
most part, however, it is of a very plain character, with 
uniformity of colour, although occasionally logs are found - 
with a waviness or curl in the grain, approaching to’ 
figure ; and these, when worked up and polished, present 
an appearance of great beauty; such logs generally 
realise, as in the case of Cuba Mahogany, a much higher 
price than logs of the ordinary description, which fetch 
at present market prices (1875) about 434d. to 6d. per 
foot superficial of 1 inch. About two-thirds only of the 
actual cubic contents, calliper measure, are, however, 
brought to sale account. The remainder or difference 
being allowed for the waste of saw kerfs, shakes, defects, 
centres, &c., in the conversion of the log into board, &c.* 
The economical uses of this wood are very numerous, 
and it is much sought after by shipwrights, carpenters, 
cabinet-makers, turners, and others, who employ it for a 
great variety of purposes. It has been largely used in 
ship-building for beams, planking, and in many other 
ways as a substitute for Oak, and found to answer ex- 
ceedingly well. It is also used extensively for cabin- 
fitments; and in its application to the arts there is 
scarcely any limit to its usefulness. 
The Honduras and other descriptions of Mahogany 
have only about 34 to 1 inch of alburnum or sap-wood 
on them, and being remarkably free from defect, the loss 
in conversion is comparatively small. 
* This mode of measurement applies equally to all the other i cd 
of Mahogany, and to Cedar. 
