Light, rich reddish brown. Thin sapwood yellow. Smooth, fine uniform texture, inconspicuous rings, conspicuous pores, sometimes filled with white substance. Structural Qualities of Wood. Strong, brittle, durable, holds glue, takes stains and high polish, small distortion in seasoning, stands well. Representative Uses of Wood. Cabinet-work, veneers; formerly ship-building. Weight of Seasoned Wood in Pounds per Cubic Foot. 45. Modulus of Elasticity. 1,510,000. Modulus of Rupture. 14,000. Remarks. Desirability varies with locality. Spanish mahogany ranks first, and harder Mexican woods next. Mahogany is usually stained. African mahogany is now successfully rivaling the American product. [p121] WHITE MAHOGANY. Prima vera. _Tabeuia Donnell-Smithii (Rose)._ Nomenclature. White Mahogany, Prima vera (local and common names). Locality. Mexico and Central America. Features of Tree. Fifty to seventy-five feet in height, two to four feet in diameter. Tall, slender, a beautiful tree. Numerous golden-yellow flowers precede the leaves. Color, Appearance, or Grain of Wood. Cream-white. Beautiful, fine grain, resembles mahogany. Structural Qualities of Wood. Works and stands well. Representative Uses of Wood. Cabinet-work, fine furniture, veneers. Weight of Seasoned Wood in Pounds per Cubic Foot. Modulus of Elasticity. Modulus of Rupture. Remarks. Many twelve-foot logs imported through San Francisco and west. Higher-priced than Red Mahogany. Named after discoverer. The wood of the Butternut or White Walnut is sometimes sold as White Mahogany. FOOTNOTE See Botanical Gazette, Vol. XVII, 1892, p. 418; Contribution U. S. National Herbarium, p. 346, Vol. I, No. 9, U. S. Dept. Agriculture, Division of Botany. [p122] SPANISH CEDAR, MEXICAN CEDAR. _Cedrela odorata Linn._ Nomenclature. Spanish Cedar, Mexican Cedar, Cuban Cedar (local and common names). Locality. Mexico, Cuba, West Indies. Features of Tree. Fifty to eighty feet in height, two to five feet in diameter. Pale-yellow flowers. Pods resemble pecan-nuts. Tree suggests English walnut (_J. regia_). Color, Appearance, or Grain of Wood. Brownish red, straight, even, compact grain. Structural Qualities of Wood. Soft, fragrant, porous, durable. Resembles cedar woods derived from coniferous trees (page 167); also resembles mahogany. Representative Uses of Wood. Cigar-boxes, boats, fine cabinet-work. May be used in place of mahogany. The figured Australian Red Cedar (_C. australis_) is locally used for furniture, joinery, carriages, ceilings, door-frames, etc. Weight of Seasoned Wood in Pounds per Cubic Foot. Modulus of Elasticity. Modulus of Rupture. Remarks. Used for cigar-boxes, because its porous structure assists cigars to season, and its odor improves their flavor. The Cuban supply is practically exhausted. Mexico is now the chief American source. Trees grow rapidly. [p123] FOOTNOTES