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TRUE MAHOGANY. 6 
_ it is probable that the cultivation of mahogany will never attain 
commercial importance outside of the tree's original habitat. While 
it will grow under widely varying conditions of soil and moisture, 
it seems to do best within the comparatively narrow limits of its 
natural range. Moreover, the relatively slow growth of Swietenia 
mahagont, which produces the better wood of the two, is an added 
handicap. - In India, it is true, where conditions are exceptionally 
favorable, the trees of both species often grow very rapidly, but it 
is not believed that the planting of mahogany on a commercial scale 
in India would be a profitable undertaking. Both species are planted 
extensively as shade trees throughout tropical America. ‘The large- 
leafed species produces a very dense crown and is regarded as one 
of the best shade trees; the small-leafed species has an open crown 
and, like the famous saman tree (Pithecolobium saman) of Central 
and South America, forms a splendid tree for the lawn or park 
where dense shade is not desirable. 
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE WOOD. 
Mahogany is moderately strong and tough, quite uniform in struc- 
ture, and may be either moderately open grained or close grained, 
depending largely on the locality where grown. ‘The wood seasons 
with comparatively little warping and checking, and once seasoned 
shrinks and swells very little. This property of holding its shape, 
together with its handsome grain and figure, makes it one of the 
most satisfactory cabinet woods and causes shipbuilders to prize it. 
It takes a beautiful natural-wood polish, is well adapted to stains, 
and has the particularly valuable quality of taking glue well. The 
wood is also being used now to some extent for pattern work. Ow- 
ing to the smali size of the pith rays, quarter sawing adds little to 
its figure. The grain of high-grade mahogany is often very odd and 
pronounced, and in this form it is the most valuable cabinet wceod 
known. For the most part it is cut into very thin veneer by a 
special machine to avoid waste. Veneer of great beauty is obtained 
from crotched pieces which are taken from the tops of trees where 
the limbs join the trunks. This form is known on the market as 
“crotch mahogany.” 
Mahogany is one of the most popular furniture woods, chiefly be- 
cause of its lasting qualities, color, and grain, and its freedom from 
warping, shrinking, and checking. Of ail the cabinet woods now 
on the market, however, mahogany shows the greatest variation in 
quality. Kven woods from the same locality do not grade alike. 
Beauty of grain is the chief property by which mahogany is graded, 
though closely allied to this is figure or pattern. (Plates I and 
II.) Size is also a factor in determining the value of mahogany 
lumber. 
