Oak. This is a wood which has probably been used more than any other kind in all classes of structures. In ancient times it was about the only wood in use both for the building of houses and for shipbuilding. Since the softer woods have become popular and oak has become somewhat less easy to get, its use has diminished to some extent, but it is still one of the most useful of woods. The trees grow freely all over the northern parts of Europe and America, extending as far south as the Equator, and have been particularly plentiful in the British Isles. There are about twenty different kinds of oaks to be found in various parts of the United States and Canada, but there are three distinctly different species, which are sold sepa rately. These are the "white oak," the "red oak," and the "live oak." The red oak is usually more porous, less durable, and of coarser tex ture than the white oak or the live oak. The trees are of medium size and form a large proportion of all the broad-leaved forests. Live oak was once very extensively used, but has become scarce and is now expensive. Both the red oak and the white oak are used for inside finishing, but they are liable to shrink and crack and must, therefore, be thoroughly seasoned. They are of slightly different color, the white oak having a straw color while the red oak has a red dish tinge, so that they can not be used together where the work is to be finished by polishing. Oak is always best if quarter-sawed and it then shows what is known as the "silver grain." This is the result of the cutting of the medullary rays, and appears on the finished wood as a succession of splashes or blotches which are of lighter color than the rest of the wood and which glisten in the light.
Poplar. This wood is also known in the market as "white wood," "tulip wood," and sometimes as "basswood." The poplar, the whitcwood or tulip tree, and the basswood are, however, three distinct kinds of trees, but the wood of each so nearly resembles of the others as to be indistinguishable in the market and so it is sold under any one of these various names. The lumber yielded by the tulip tree and known commercially as whitewood is the best. This tree is a native of North America and grows freely all over the United States and Canada. There are a number of different varieties grow ing in various parts of the country. It is sometimes called "yellow poplar." The poplar or cottonwood is most common in the region of the Ohio basin, and grows in the western desert regions along the water courses. The tree is a large one and usually grows in small groups, not forming extensive forests. The basswood tree, also known as the linden, grows all over the eastern part of the United States and Canada, and in the middle west. The wood of all these trees is light, soft, free from knots, and of fine texture. In color it is white, or yellowish white, and frequently has a satiny luster. It
can be so finished as to retain its natural appearance, but it is often stained to imitate some of the more costly woods, such as cherry. It is used extensively for cheap inside finish and fittings, such as shelving, and sometimes for doors, but it warps badly if it is not thoroughly seasoned, and will not stand exposure.
Sycamore. Sycamore is frequently used for finishing, and is a very handsome wood. It is heavy, hard, strong, of coarse texture, and is usually cross grained. It is hard to work, and shrinks, warps, and checks considerably. The tree is of large size and rapid growth, found in all parts of the eastern United States, and is most common along the Ohio and Mississippi rivers.
Walnut. There are a number of different kinds of walnut trees, of which only one or two, however, yield timber which is suitable for use in building construction. The best known trees are the "English walnut," the "black walnut," the "white walnut" or "butternut," and the "Circassian walnut." The English walnut grows in Europe, and is not very popular as a finishing wood, while it is too expensive to be used for rough lumber. Formerly great quantities of it were used in the manufacture of gun stocks, so much so as to create a demand for the entire supply. The black walnut is a native of North America, and until about thirty years ago it was used very extensively in the United States for interior finish and furniture, taking the place of oak for these purposes. During recent years, however, the wood has ceased to be popular, and is now very seldom used. This is partly due to the scarcity and consequent high price of the timber. It is a heavy hard wood of coarse texture and of a rich dark-brown color. Very handsome pieces having a beautiful figure may be selected for veneers for furniture and cabinet work. Although the wood shrinks somewhat in drying, it works easily, stands well, and will take a good polish. The tree is large and of rapid growth. It was formerly very abundant in the Allegheny region, and was found from New England to Texas and from Michigan to Florida. White walnut, or butternut, is somewhat like black walnut wood, but is of a lighter color and is not so pleasing when finished. Circassian walnut is beautifully figured, and is sometimes used for piano cases, and costly cabinet work, but it is very scarce and very expensive.
Laurel. The tree of this name which is most extensively used in building work is the California laurel, which grows on the Pacific Coast and is seldom seen used in the eastern part of the country. The wood is hard, heavy, and strong, light brown in color, and of close grain. The sapwood is considerably lighter in color than the heartwood. The wood takes a very good polish and is quite gener erally used on the Pacific Coast for cabinet work and interior finish ing.