ON THE FURNITURE WOODS OF COMMERCE. 469 



(Thuja articulata). The wood is dark nut-brown, close-grained, and 

 very fragrant. It is believed to be the algum or almuz of Scripture, 

 one of the most costly materials furnished by Hiram, King of Tyre, 

 to Solomon, for the building of the Temple, and for the house on Mount 

 Lebanon. Planks of this wood formed the precious citrine tables of 

 the Roman banqueting halls. 



It requires a large capital to keep up a good stock of seasoned wood, 

 so as even to support a moderately large manufactory ; but as there are 

 no duties on wood, it pays the dealer well to lay in a stock of furni- 

 ture wood for seasoning, because the unexampled prosperity of our 

 colonies insures for a long series of years a market for the furniture 

 of Europe. Nothing but the taste and make of the mother country 

 will suit her colonists, and skilled labour is too high in the colonies for 

 much attention to be given yet to furniture and cabinet-making. The 

 value of the furniture, cabinet, and upholstery wares annually 

 exported from the United Kingdom averages from 250,000/. to 

 350,0007. 



There was a time, we are told by a leading Liverpool timber firm, 

 when a portion of the capital of that county (Lancashire) employed its 

 population in the manufacture, and its merchants in the exportation of 

 furniture. The foundations of the fortunes of the more prosperous 

 cabinet-makers and shipowners were so laid. Circumstances, however, 

 interrupted this state of things, through the imposition of war duties 

 of 12/. 10s. per ton on Spanish mahogany, and 45Z. per ton on rosewood ; 

 and Lancashire ceased to employ its people in the manufacture beyond 

 the home trade, and its merchants ceased to load the 'tween decks 

 of their ships with furniture to the colonies. — Popular Science 

 Review. 



