There is no imported wood more popular than Mahogany, Swietenia Mahogani. Its rich rose color, with its light and dark shades, when polished, produces a beautiful effect; and its even grain makes it easy to work. It is a native of the mountainous parts of Cuba, and is extensively imported into Europe and this country, for the manufacture of furniture and interior finishing. Mahogany and other rare valuable woods in large quantities have been dug up from muck beds at Pensacola, Florida, and authorities say that these woods are fully 5,000 years old, and are still in such good condition that they can be used in the arts.

Coccoloba, a costly wood, is a native of South America, and is imported for the manufacture of mathematical instruments, tool handles, furniture, etc., of the finest quality. When polished it is a very brilliant yellow, with dark brown veining. Being poisonous, it is dangerous to work, and in cutlery factories where it was manufactured into handles, its use has been discontinued on this account.

Ebony, Diospyros, is a native of Africa; there are several species imported, the best of which is D. ebenus, it is very expensive, but is reported by travelers as growing in such abundance in some parts of Africa that the natives use it for fire wood. We cannot but wish that Stanley could induce Tippoo Tib to give up his inhuman slave trade, and devote himself to exporting the valuable products of his country. The whole genus to which Ebony belongs is remarkable for the hardness and dark color of its wood; it is used for fine furniture and ornaments.

Amaranth is a costly wood, imported from South America for furniture, mathematical instruments, handles for cutlery, etc. When worked its color is brown, resembling walnut, but when exposed to the sun it turns to a rich carmine color.

Lignum vitae, Guaiacum officinale, is a native of San Domingo. It is so hard and heavy that it cannot be used to any great extent for mechanical purposes, but is used for ornaments, toys, etc.

The Teak tree, Tectonia grandis of India, the most valuable wood grown in the East, is a timber tree of great size, the wood is very durable. It is neither too heavy nor too hard, it does not warp or split when exposed to dampness or heat, and contains an essential oil which prevents its rotting under wet conditions, and at the same time acts as a preservative to iron and repels destructive insects; it is somewhat of the nature of Mahogany, and takes an excellent polish. In England Teak is compressed and answers some of the same purposes for which box-wood is now used; it is used in the United States for furniture.

Willow for baskets to the amount of $500,000 is yearly imported into this country; the home supply is very large, but it does not cope with the demand.

A wood which is used for furniture and interior decoration is the Mahaleb Cherry, which grows in Central Europe. It has a fine tint of color and an agreeable perfume.

The best boxwood is found in the countries bordering the Black Sea. Immense quantities have annually been sent to England, and several thousand tons of the finest quality from Southern Russia annually pass through Constantinople lor England and America. It is used for wood-engravings, tools, skate-tops, shuttle-blocks, etc. When the skating rinks collapsed recently, 150 tons of Turkey boxwood bound for America for skate-tops was stopped in London. This wood is now becoming scarce.

Satinwood, Chloroxylon swietenia, is a native of the West Indies and is imported for furniture and interior decoration. It has a white, lively color.

Most of the French Walnut sold in our markets really comes from the Orient. The finest quality is sold for $5.00 per pound. It is too expensive to be used, only as veneer.

A complete history of Rosewood was published in the September Gardeners' Monthly, 1886. It is a native of Brazil and is extensively used for fine furniture and interior finishing in the United States. It is of an oily nature, is very hard and and durable, has a rich brown color.

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