270 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



but on this point I am unable, from want of sufficient mate- 

 rial, to speak with exactness. 



The wood of the wild cherry is comparatively light, the 

 specific gravity ^ of the dry wood being but .454, while that 

 of black walnut equally dry is .539 (the average of two speci- 

 mens), or eighteen per cent heavier. It is close grained, 

 compact, and not liable to warp. Of a dull, light-red tint, 

 which deepens with age, it in time almost rivals the best 

 mahogany in color. For these qualities, and because it 

 works easily and advantageously, the wood of the wild 

 cherry is highly valued by the cabinet-maker. It is also 

 now largely used for interior finish ; and it is the only 

 American wood employed in making what is known as 

 " ebonized " work, that is, furniture dyed black in imitation 

 of ebony. Cherry is still considered the best wood for 

 window-sashes. The application of wild cherry to the finish 

 of expensive interiors is of but recent date, and promises 

 a large demand for this wood; while for cabinet-making 

 the annual consumption is rapidly and steadily increasing, 

 although still far behind the more popular black walnut, 

 which, in spite of its sombre color, still supplies the material 

 for fully three-quarters of all the hard-wood furniture made 

 in the United States. The following table of the actual 

 prices, in the Boston market, of the principal American 

 woods employed in cabinet-making, will show the compara- 

 tive estimation in which they are held, and will furnish an 

 intimation of the probable supply of first-class material for 

 this purpose. 



Black Walnut |75 per 1,000 feet. 



White Oak 65 " " « 



Cherry 60 « " " 



Butternut 50 « " " 



White Ash 40 " " » 



Sugar-Maple 40 « « « 



The wood of the wild cherry when dry burns well, with- 

 out snapping ; but it is soon consumed, and, from its light- 

 ness, is inferior to nearly all American hard-woods com 

 monly employed as fuel. In heat-giving qualities, hickory, 



1 This determination, as well as all those which occur in the following 

 pages, has been made for me by S. P. Sharpless, Esq., 114 State Street, Bos- 

 ton, the State assayer. In every case the specific gravity given is that of the 

 perfectly dry wood. 



