146 



MAHOGANY. 



this is^ of which the timber is now in so com- 

 mon use ?" 



It seemed as if our young friends had not 

 suffered much uneasiness from unsatisfied cu- 

 riosity upon this head. 



Presuming^ at least/' continued Mr. Long- 

 hurst, that you will value the information, 

 now it is offered, I have looked out a print of 

 a mahogany branch. You see, the leaves, or, 

 as they are called in botany, leaflets^ are in 

 pairs, opposite to each other : these are termed 

 winged leaves ; having leaflets thus placed. 

 The flowers, as you perceive from this very 

 accurate representation, are in upright bunches, 

 somewhat like those of the horse-chestnut. I 

 am not quite aware what sort of fruit, or seed, 

 it produces. 



^' We are then to conceive of the mahogany- 

 tree, as one of majestic size and appearance. 



