(J.) Cherry (dec.) is one of the best of our native woods. It is much used for fine finish and for cabinet work, as it holds its shape well, if thoroughly seasoned, and takes a fine finish. Its grain is of fine, even texture, of reddish color, and often stained to imitate mahogany. When well ebonized, it cannot be distinguished from the genuine wood except by weight.

Cherry is used by pattern makers for parts of patterns which are to stand rough usage. The tree is found in all of the states east of Texas, and in the Mississippi valley, but it is becoming too scarce for common use.

(K.) Chestnut (dec.) is a soft, open-grained wood, adapted to use in exposed situations. It is used a great deal for inside finish, as it will take a fine polish, and as the figures formed by the grain make it a very handsome wood for the purpose.

Not being a strong wood, it will not stand a heavy strain, and will shrink and crack badly in drying.

(L.) Cypress (con.) is similar to cedar. It is one of our most durable woods, and perhaps the best we have for outside work. It is used extensively for shingles; roofs covered with cypress shingles have been known to last for more than seventy-five years. The wood is light, straight-grained, and soft; it is easily worked, and holds its shape well. It is to great extent taking the place of white pine in the manufacture of doors, sash, and blinds, and is con sidered by many to be equal, if not superior, to that wood. It is much used in building small boats, and for use in places where it will be exposed to dampness. Eaves, troughs, and tanks made of it give better satisfaction than those made of any other woods except redwood and cedar, which are the only woods having anti-decaying qualities equal to cypress.

Cypress may be obtained in boards of almost any dimen sions, and if it were stronger and harder, it would be one of our best woods for framing and finishing. It is used for the latter purpose to a considerable extent, as it has a handsome grain, and will take a polish well; if thoroughly seasoned, it will hold its shape as well as any wood. If it is seasoned slowly, it does not crack to an appreciable extent, but if forced, it is apt to be filled with fine shakes. Sap is not considered a blemish.

Cypress grows in the swamps and along the rivers of the Southern states, the best of it coming from those border ing on the gulf.

(M.) Elm (dec.) is a moderately hard wood, difficult to split. It warps and checks to some extent in drying, but when well seasoned it holds its shape as well as most woods in common use. It is susceptible to a good polish, and is used a great deal for interior finish and furniture, as it takes a stain well. Much of the quartered oak used in the manufacture of cheap furniture grew upon an elm stump. It is used largely in cooperage, and stands con tact with the soil satisfactorily.

The elm is found in nearly all parts of the United States, but is more abundant east of the Mississippi river.

(N.) Gum (dec), or, as it is more generally known, sweet gum, is extensively used for interior finish upon the better class of buildings. It warps and shrinks badly un less thoroughly seasoned, in which condition it is a very satisfactory wood. It is tough and strong, cross-grained, and of fine texture; its color is a warm, reddish brown, and it finishes handsomely. The gum tree grows abun dantly in the Southern states.

(O.) Hemlock (con.) is found in most of the Northern states, and is used for scantlings, rough boards, under floors, and for boarding preparatory to siding. It is a fairly durable wood, but splits easily, and is apt to be full of wind shakes. It holds nails firmly.

(P.) Hickory (dec.) is the hardest native wood in com mon use, and the toughest wood that we have; it is too hard to be used for building material. It is flexible, and its principal use is for wagon and carriage work, and for other purposes where bent wood and great strength is required. As it does not split easily, it is much used in the manufac ture of tool handles. It is liable to attacks from boring in sects, and these pests often destroy much valuable timber.

Sap is not considered a defect, and the sapwood is in fact the most desirable part of the tree, on account of its creamy whiteness and great strength.

(Q.) Locust (dec.) is found in nearly all parts of the country, and is a useful and durable wood. It is much used for fence posts and, in damp locations, for railway ties, and sometimes for furniture, as it has a yellowish brown color which takes a polish well.

(R.) Maple (dec.) is a heavy, strong wood, nearly white, with a yellow or brownish tinge. There are several kinds of maple, but the kind generally used for commercial purposes is the sugar or rock maple. It does not shrink excessively, seasons without serious checking, and from it a very fine surface for polishing may be obtained. It is much used in places where it is exposed to wear, as in floors, butchers' tables, etc., and to a considerable extent as a cabinet wood, and for interior finish. Maple does not resist decay as well as do some other woods.

Sap is not considered a defect, and on account of its whiteness the sapwood is often preferred to the heartwood for many uses.

Bird's-eye maple is of this wood, but some peculiarity in the growth of certain trees, believed by many to be caused by woodpeckers, has caused the tree to have what seem to be numerous small knots, known as curls or eyes. The presence of these imparts a beauty which is. possessed by no other wood, and has never been successfully imitated.

(S.) Mahogany (dec.) is an imported wood, and is much used in the finish of fine buildings and in the manu facture of fine furniture. It is of a rich red color, and has a beautiful grain and other desirable qualities which make it the finest wood for finish in use. It holds its shape remarkably well, unless it is very cross-grained, and is in every respect an ideal cabinet wood. Its cost is all that prevents it from being universally used.