﻿USES OF COMMERCIAL WOODS. 39 



used iii the manufacture of veneer in L909, but only si portion of the 

 veneer found place in furniture making. In quantity maple (all 

 species combined) was surpassed by red gum and the southern yellow 

 pines. 



Sugar maple is a choice wood for kitchen cabinets, tables, and 

 shelves. It is clean and white, so hard and dense that it does not 

 readily absorb impurities, and its surface is easily washed. 



A rather large quantity of it is made into mission furniture, some 

 of which is left in its natural color. The wood may be stained a 

 green gray by applications of copperas water. The makers of willow 

 and rattan furniture employ sugar-maple rods to give form and 

 strength to their commodities. 



The bulk of the first-class maple demanded by furniture manufac- 

 turers is made into bedroom suites, wardrobes, house desks, library 

 tables, Avail cases, bookshelves, chiffoniers, rockers, children's cribs, 

 and similar articles. It is here that the bird's-eye and curly maple 

 are most frequently seen and where the artistic workman can most 

 effectively display his skill. The best bird's-eye stock is generally 

 reduced to veneer and spread in thin sheets over scores of cheaper 

 woods. 



INTERIOR FINISH. 



The use of high-grade figured maple as interior finish does not 

 differ much from its employment in furniture making. The best 

 wood is reduced to veneer and laid on cheaper backing. Wide panels 

 in ceiling or wall are possible, for the veneer may be had in large 

 sheets, cut by the rotary process. The manufacturers of material of 

 that grade discourage the employment of fillers preparatory to 

 finishing the work, but recommend natural colors. 



The general use of maple flooring calls, in many designs, for inte- 

 rior finish to match. Stairs are made of the wood. It wears well 

 where use is hard, and it carves well where ornamentation is desired. 



Maple doors are in wide demand. They are heavy, but are slow 

 to warp or sag, and give little trouble on account of getting out of 

 shape. 



Fixtures for stores and offices, such as counter tops, shelving, cab- 

 inets, show cases, display racks, and seats and benches, are occasionally 

 of maple, though generally darker woods are better liked. 



VEHICLES. 



Sugar maple is very strong, but its tendency to break by sudden 

 jolt or jar places it at a disadvantage in some parts of certain kinds 

 of vehicles, yet it has a wide range of uses in which it gives satisfac- 

 tory service. It is maintained by some that tapping trees in the 

 process of sugar making weakens the wood by the introduction of 

 incipient decay ; but as far as the commercial use of the wood is 



