Oak is one of the most abundant woods in this country and reputable manufacturers are as particular about the selection of their oak as of the other wood that they use in making furniture.

The botanical classification of oaks divides them into two families; one the white oak family, maturing its acorns or fruit the same year that it blooms; the other the red oak family, maturing its fruit the second year. It is possible, therefore, to establish positively the identity of the two families when they are growing and in fruit. To distinguish them in furniture is very difficult and often puzzles the expert.

Oak is finished in many colors the principal ones of which are weathered, early English, fumed, dark golden, light golden, malachite ( green finish), and Flemish (black finish), the last two being practically obsolete. The first five finishes are the most popular today. The dark .shade of golden oak that has been popular so long seems to be sinking into disfavor, as much goods are being shown in the light golden finish, and it will he but a short time until the light finish of golden oak will lead. The highly polished finish is being displaced by the waxed finish, which makes a very attractive and serviceable wood. Fumed oak has a subdued brown effect and is found mostly in arts and crafts or mission designs, and is very practical for living rooms and dining rooms, owing to the \ery hard service that it will endure. The demand is growing more and more for the light fumed finish rather than the dark fumed finish, which has been so very popular. Acid stains are used a great deal by the concerns which have no fuming rooms. The genuine fumed is the desirable finish, as this furniture goes through first a process of moistening to open the pores of the wood and then is put in an air-tight room in which very strong ammonia is allowed to evaporate and penetrate the wood. The pieces are left there as long as necessary to obtain the required color, and finally removed to be sanded to a smooth surface, and in some instances extra stain is added to make the color of the article uniform, as uniformity is sometimes lacking, due to the many pieces of wood used in a -ingle article, which are often taken from many different trees of various temperaments. Almost every other color than fumed is a surface color and does not penetrate to any depth, and will, therefore, wear off when used on furniture that has hard usage, such as arms of chairs, etc., while the genuine fumed finish is practically everlasting.

Various finishes are given to woods by the use of different stains. This being the case, one stained finish should not, and does not, cost more than another.

Walnut takes different shades due to the different stains used.