Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-02-20
SCIENTIFIC.

Wood for Carvinc.-L.me tree Is soft
and pliable to the tool, and less liable
to split and splinter than almost any
other wood, which qualities render il
of great utility to carvers for carrying
out designs when lightness and bold
ness are equally required. 1t takes a
stain well, and fair polish, or it may
be varnisned without greatly altering
the color of the wood but giving to 1t a
very agreeable lockwood appearance.
As well as for large festoons 1t is suit
able for smaller works, such as book
stands, miniature and portrait frames,
etc.
American walnut Is a very good
wood, and is much in favor for its dark
color. 1t has, however, q more open
grain than lime, and therefore, re quirs
more care to avoid accidents. 1t is used
for many small works where much pro-
lection is unnecessary, as bOok-racks,
watch-stands, etc.
Sycamore, holly, and chestnut are
amongst the lightest of our woods. The
first is greatly, and in fact, principally
used for bread-plates, potatO-bOwls, and
other articles where light tint Is q
consideration.
Among the hardwoods, oak may be
recommended, as also Italian and Eng
lish walnut. The former, from its
hard and enduring nature, should as a
rule be chosen for executing finals or
pew heads, alms-boxes, church and
Gothic work i'm general. 1t is also much
used for clock and hall brackets, and for
other pieces of solid furniture.
Italian walnut is rich and beautiful
wood for a variety of purposes, such as
cabinets, bookcases, frames, etc. 1t is
hard, but the effect produced by its use
amply repays the extra labor caused by
the close texture of the material.
When any very delicate designs have
to be executed, and the most minute
finish Is required, box-wood, ebony, or
any other equally hard and close
grained woods are decidedly the best TO
choose.
Pear tree is pleasant wood for work
ing, and a good piece resembles lime in
its pliability. 1t is extensively used in
France for the purpose for which We
employ Lime.
Wood with ornamental grains, as
bird's-eye maple, satinw ood, yew, and
laburnum, etc, are not the most desira-
grain and color often interfere with the
effect one may be endeavOring to pro-
duce. Thus one of the eyes of the
maple might Craze the nose of Venus,
or the " hite stains of yew or laburnum
show like deep gashes across her other
wise lovely face.
These are only general ideas, as there
must be OF necessity many exceptions
10 any rule for the selection of proper
woods for particular subjects; for the
choice OF material, must, in all cases, be
subservient to the character of the
design, as also TO the taste of the opera
tor.
The wood must be thoroughly sea-
soned. The proper time to fell oaks,
and most other trees, is when they fail
10 Increase in size more than two feet
per annum. Ii cut down before that
period OF their existence, the heart will
not be fully developed, and will not be
as hard as the other part. When oaks
are about thirty years old, their growth
is most rapid. Autumn is generally
considered the best time to fell.
If wood be used in an unseasoned
state, il is sure TO warp and twist; and
when /. is SO used for panels fitted into
loose grooves, it shrinks away from the
edge which happens to be the most
slightly held, but when restrained by
nails, mortises, or other unyielding at
tachments, which do not allow them the
power of contraction, they split with
Irresistible force, and the workmanship
is thus brought 10 no useful service. 1t
is therefore very necessary that the na-
tural juices OF the tree be got rid of By
seasoning it before use. After tree is
Topped, barked, and roughly squared,
it is left some time exposed to the
weather, and may be soaked in fresh
running water with advantage, and
boiled or steamed. Any of these pro-
cesses tend to dilute AID wash out the
juices, and the water readily evaporates
from the wood at a subsequent period,
and the color of the wood will he much
improved by these means. Thin planks,
if properly exposed to the air, will be
seasoned in about year, but the thicker
the wood the longer the lime it will
take. Oak looses nearly two-fif,hs of
its weight in proper seasoning.
10 IL