Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1880 [PAGE 99]

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97 Butternut.— Sometimes called white walnut. Wood is good in color and grade, without large pores or ducts, resembling white ash considerably, though more brownish in tint; soft and easy to work, without hard crystals, stable, excellent for furniture and inside finish, but not easily obtained, except where it is locally abundant. Should be more used, where possible, as i\ is as handsome as ash or chestnut, and much easier to work and finish. Catalpa.—Not common, except in southern United States. Cultivated, as it grows very rapidly, and is very durable when placed in contact with earth or water, for posts, ties, etc. Cedar, Eed.—Very durable, easy to work, but very liable to split; stable, much used for posts, railroad ties, furniture, cigar and fancy boxes, lead pencils, etc.; can be obtained in the log, boards, veneers, and thin stuff, in any large city. Boxes made of or lined with cedar, are said to protect furs and woolen clothing placed in them from moths. Hence, in the finest houses, a closet is usually planned which is lined and finished with red cedar. Cedar, Spanish.—Yellowish-red, coarser in grain than the last, and much more apt to warp; resembles mahogany considerably, though more yellow, and is sometimes sold for that wood. It has a strong odor which is quite offensive to many persons. Most of the inside work of the finest railroad passenger cars is made of Spanish <?edar, especially the mouldings. It is also much used for cigar boxes. Cedar, White.—Wood whitish, not handsome, and therefore seldom used for building: Very durable, and therefore much employed for fence posts, railroad ties, telegraph poles, etc. Cherry, Black.—Very valuable wood, very stable if properly seasoned and worked, easy to work, and durable when dry; may be obtained in any large city, but is not kept at ordinary yards; sometimes used for floors and inside finish of houses, but more commonly for good furniture. The "ebonized" furniture which is now so fashionable, is mostly made of cherry, the inferiorx quality being of whitewood. Where cherry is used so as to show its natural grain and color, it is at first quite handsome, but gradually darkens, -eventually becoming almost as dark as black walnut, and of an unpleasant color. Some persons admire it, however. Much of the old furniture to be found in New England is of cherry. Excellent for drawing boards, and T-squares if the drawing edge be lined with an inserted slip of a harder wood; fully as stable as mahogany, but less handsome; costs but little more than the best white pine. Chestnut.—Besembles oak in grain and color, but is more brownish, and has much less prominent medullary rays. Most trees are full of small black wormholes, made while the tree is still standing. WTood is very stable and exceedingly durable, light, easy to work, and handsome. Much used for fencing, posts, railroad ties, etc. also sometimes used for the inside finish of churches and public halls, etc. Bodies of piano-cases, tops, and veneered furniture are often made of chestnut, as it is so stable, and holds the glue well. It is a very valuable wood, which should be used when it can be had. Unfortunately, it is not found in the Western States, and is said to not do well there when cultivated.

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