Paragraph 50. Although Mahogany is not a native wood and you may never have a chance to see a standing tree, or even a log of this kind, yet it is used so much in all kinds of fine furniture that you should know something about the nature of the timber.

There are several different varieties of Mahogany found in different countries, but the most commonly known Mahogany used in cabinet work grows in Central America. The trees do not grow in groups, but are found scattered throughout the tropical forests. They grow very large and tall and in certain seasons of the year can be distinguished by their fiery appearance above the other tree tops. Mahogany hunters, as the men are called, who go out and locate the trees, climb high in the other trees and look about over the forest until they can see the top of a mahogany tree in the distance. The difficult work of cutting a road through the dense undergrowth then begins and it is often quite a while before the tree is even reached. Cutting the logs and getting them out to a shipping point is another hard task, so there is little wonder that the lumber is expensive. .

Mahogany is hard and serviceable, does not shrink nor warp to any noticeable degree, will hold its shape and form indefinitely, does not split nor check, is somewhat difficult to work because of the cross-grained nature, but will last indefinitely even under trying conditions. It is a close-grained wood, and usually has very marked and beautiful figures in the grain. This is the particular feature by which it is best known, and connected with the rich, dark red color makes it so familiar either in solid form or veneer in fine furniture, particularly piano cases.