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 J by 2 J, and 
3 by 3, 18 to 36 inches long, and used largely for corner posts and 
legs. S'ome 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. 
