64 BULLETIN" 909, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Carvings often add greatly to the attractive appearance of the 

 article. The finer, more detailed carvings are usually made sepa- 

 rately and afterwards attached to the wood. On account of the high 

 cost of labor wood carving is expensive, and many imitation wood 

 carvings are made. A tendency is now observable, however, toward 

 the use of simple carvings made of genuine wood. These carvings 

 are sometimes made by machinery and at a lower cost than when 

 made by hand. 



Walnut finishes are now more nearly like the natural color of the 

 wood and vary from light to dark brown. A medium light-brown 

 tone that shows a figure of darker streaks is considered especially 

 attractive. Very light and very dark brown finishes are not so pleas- 

 ing. Walnut shows to better advantage when rubbed to a dull finish 

 than when given a high polish. These dull finishes are popular at 

 the present time. 



Probably the largest amount of walnut used for furniture is in 

 the form of veneer, for in a very large part of this furniture the 

 solid (not veneered) parts are of some other wood. All kinds of 

 walnut veneer are used in furniture, the highest grade largely de- 

 manding figure, stripe, cross figure (often with rippled and " fiddle- 

 back " effects) , figured stump wood, crotch, and burl. A large amount 

 of plain veneer is used. Rotary veneer that is unsuited for outside 

 work is sometimes used for sides and bottoms of drawers and in 

 other places where it is not conspicuous. 



Many factories buy much of their walnut cut to the approximate 

 dimensions of the finished pieces. This applies particularly to di- 

 mension squares. Common sizes purchased are 2 by 2, 2^ by 2|, and 

 3 by 3, 18 to 36 inches long, and used largely for corner posts and 

 legs. Some manufacturers consider that the purchase of this stock 

 at, say, $75 a thousand board feet, means a saving to them in both 

 labor and machinery in comparison with the cost of working it up 

 from lumber. Other manufacturers find that, if they have to dry 

 the stock, and if it is not then perfectly clear and first class in every 

 way, no saving is effected, on account of the waste involved. One of 

 the greatest objections to the purchase of dimension stock for fur- 

 niture is that there are so many different and special sizes used, it is 

 often not practicable to have them cut at the sawmill. Moreover, 

 styles of furniture change frequently and with resultant changes in 

 the sizes of the different pieces. 



Furniture manufacturers are, therefore, purchasing more walnut 

 lumber and cutting it to the desired sizes. No. 1 common is the 

 grade generally found most advantageous. Some factories purchase 

 the firsts and seconds grade also, and others get No. 2 common and 

 better and make all their stock from this combination of grades. The 

 most common thicknesses used are 4/4, 5/4, 6/4, and 8/4. 



