MAHOGANY. 'There are many species of trees belonging to the genus Swectenia, which include among them the mahogany. One of the species yields the African Mahogany, brought from Sierra Leone ; the timber is bard, but is liable to warp; it is employed where a hard cheap timber of large scantling is needed ; the negroes employ an infusion of the bark in medicine. Another species yields the beautiful East Indian Satin-wood, which is of a deep yellow colour, close grained, heavy, and durable. The most useful and well known species, however, is the Campeachy Mahogany ; the timber of which is so fami liar to us as to need no description. It appears to have been first imported into this country about the year 1724. From the elevated parts of the country the wood is closer grained and darker coloured than that grown near the coast ; the former is termed Spanish and the latter Honduras mahogany. Spanish maho
gany is imported in logs About ten feet long, and from twenty to twenty-six inches square ; whereas Honduras mahogany can be procured in logs of larger size. When the grain of mahogany is more than usually beautiful, it will obtain a price fpr fancy cabinet-work far beyond the usual market standard. On one occasion Messrs. Broadwood, the eminent piano forte manufacturers, gave 3,000/. for three logs of mahogany, which were each about 15 feet long by 38 inches square ; it was of exquisite beauty and closeness, and was cut up into thin veneers for the more costly pianofortes.
Since the abolition of the duty on maho gany, the import has largely increased. In 1t348 the import was 3'.1,,t/Q9 tons. The lion of ship-builders is being attracted towards the fitness of mahogany for building vessels.