"COLOMBIAN MAHOGANY." 



INTRODUCTION. 



The purpose of this circular is to present to users of cabinet woods 

 the distinguishing characteristics of one of the best imitation mahoga- 

 nies now marketed. The trade name of this wood is "Colombian 

 mahogany,'' so called because it comes only from Colombia. It is not 

 mahogany, however, but belongs to an entirely different family of 

 trees, the nionkey-pod family, Lecythidacese, and is technically known 

 as Cariniana pyriformis Miers (figs. 1 and 2). The true mahogany, 

 Surietenia mahagoni Jacq. (figs. 7 and 8) is a member of the family 

 Meliacese, to which the well-known China tree belongs. "Colombian 

 mahogany" and true mahogany are botanically as unlike as an oak 

 and a maple, but a superficial resemblance in the grain and color of 

 their woods has made it possible to substitute the Colombian wood 

 for the other. 



Since Cariniana pyriformis is not mahogany, the tradename "Colom- 

 bian mahogany " is a misnomer. It is probable, however, that because 

 the wood comes entirely from Colombia it will continue to be known 

 by its present name, though a more fitting one would be Cariniana. 



How long the wood of Cariniana pyriformis has been used in the 

 United States is not known. It has been exported from Cartagena, 

 Colombia, to Havre, France, however, for more than 30 years and 

 there sold in immense cargoes as genuine mahogany. Practically all 

 the " Colombian mahogany" now marketed is cut at points from 100 

 to 200 miles inland and shipped from Cartagena. The trunks of the 

 trees are straight and cylindrical, from 24 to 70 inches in diameter, 

 with an average of about 36 inches, and often with a clear length of 

 50 feet, ** 



The great popularity of true mahogany as a furniture and finishing 

 wood has caused a steady depletion of the available supply ever since 

 its earliest use, in about 1724. Few users of mahogany realize that 

 the consumption of material passing in the markets as mahogany 

 amounts annually to about 40,000,000 feet, while the cut of real 

 mahogany is only about 18,000,000 feet. This does not mean so much 

 that deliberate deception is being practiced as it does that the demand 

 for true mahogany greatly exceeds the supply. In consequence the 



5*9371 °— Cir. 18£— H ,Q 



