252   SELECTION OF FURNITURE
Oak. There are two general groups of oak woods, the red and
the white. This wood is rather heavy, hard, and tough, but it is
easily worked with tools; the grain is interesting though rather
coarse. Quarter-sawed oaks are popular because of their grain.
Quarter-sawing is cutting a log into quarters and then into boards
by cutting alternately from each face of the quarter—a more costly
process producing more beautiful grain than ordinary cutting.
There was also an ugly period in oak, the recent golden oak era,
that made oak disliked by people of taste. At the present time,
oak is returning to favor as it is used in the modern and also in
early English, Spanish, and French provincial styles. Mbst oak
pieces are rather large, solid, and masculine in effect.
Maple. There are two principal varieties, hard and soft maple,
with the Oregon maple about halfway between the two. Hard
maple is best for furniture because of its great strength, its hard,
smooth surface, and fine, light reddish brown color. The grain
is usually straight, although veneers of curly and bird's-eye maple
are prized. Maple is one of our choicest furniture woods, suitable
for dining rooms, bedrooms, and living rooms. It is commonly
used for reproduction of early colonial furniture. In addition
Maple is sometimes utilized for commonplace furniture and also
for frames, drawers, and stretchers of other furniture where
strength is very important.
Gum. Red gum is the name of the tree and also of the heart-
wood of the tree, which varies from rich reddish brown to dark
chocolate-brown in color. Sap gum is the name of the sapwood
of the same tree; it is light pinkish. Boards showing both heart-
wood and sapwood are striking in color and value variations.
Gum is a recent addition to the furniture woods, as its use has
been made possible by modern methods of seasoning wood. For-
merly it became twisted while drying. Now it is one of our most
important hardwoods although it splits and becomes dented rather
easily. It has a pleasing grain and color and takes finish so well
that it is often stained to imitate other woods. It is used for the
less important parts of mahogany pieces, posts and rails being made
of red gum and the veneered panels of mahogany. Furniture
manufacturers consider that this substitution is perfectly legiti-
mate provided the piece is not sold as all mahogany.