ON THE FURNITURE WOODS OF COMMERCE. 465 



is, however, little doubt that several species of Triptolomea yield rose- 

 wood in the province of Bahia. 



The demand for rosewood has lately fallen off ; for whilst in 1854, 

 5,670 tons, of the value of 82,21 li., were imported, on the average of 

 the three years ending 1861, the imports were only 2,000 tons. 



Kosewood exhibits large elongated zones of black irregular lines on 

 a reddish brown ground, of various tints and high lustre. The grain 

 varies — being frequently very coarse, but in selected specimens is suffi- 

 ciently fine for the best description of furniture. The dark colour in 

 general is too predominant ; but when this is not the case, and the 

 lighter ground is disposed in larger masses than usual, the wood is con- 

 sidered very beautiful. 



Some of the specimens of Maple wood from North America are very 

 ornamental, especially those of the red-flowering maple (Acer rubrum), 

 and the sugar maple (A. saccharinum). 



It sometimes happens that in very old trees of the former species, 

 the grain, instead of following a perpendicular direction, is undrdated ; 

 and this variety bears the name of " curled maple.'' This singular 

 arrangement, for which no cause has ever been assigned, is never wit- 

 nessed in young trees, nor in the branches of such as exhibit it in the 

 trunk. It is also less conspicuous at the centre than near the circum- 

 ference. Trees offering this disposition are rare, and do not exist in the 

 proportion of one to a hundred. The serpentine direction of the fibre 

 which renders them difficult to split and to work, produces, in the hands 

 of a skilful mechanic, the most beautiful effects of light and shade. 

 These effects are rendered more striking if, after smoothing the surface 

 of the wood with a double-ironed plane, it is rubbed with a little sul- 

 phuric acid, and then with linseed oil. On examining it attentively, 

 the varying shades are found to be owing entirely to the inflection of 

 the rays of light, and this is more sensibly perceived in viewing it in 

 different directions by candle light. 



Before mahogany came into such general use, the wood of the red- 

 flowering maple was largely employed in America for furniture ; bed- 

 steads are still made of it, which in richness and lustre excel the finest 

 mahogany. Veneers of it are much used to inlay other woods in articles 

 of cabinet work and for the finishing of ship's cabins. The red-flower- 

 ing maple, never produces the variety known as " bird's-eye maple," 

 that being confined exclusively to the sugar, or the rock maple. The 

 sugar maple exhibits two accidental forms in the arrangements of the 

 fibre, of which cabinet-makers take advantage for making beautiful 

 articles of furniture. The first consists of undulations like those of 

 the red-flowering maple and is likewise known as "curled maple ;" the 

 second, which takes place only in old trees which are still sound, appears 

 to arise from an inflection of the fibre from the circumference towards 

 the centre, producing spots of half a line in diameter, sometimes con- 



