parts together inaccuracies may be
easily corrected. If, for instance, in mortising and tenoning, the edge
of the mortised member is not true, or, rather, is not "square," the
shoulder of the tenon on one side will abut before the other side does,
and thus leave a crack, if the wood is hard. If the wood is soft there
is always enough yield to enable the workman to spring it together.
Therefore, until you have learned how to make a true joint, use soft
wood.

Poplar is another good wood for the beginner, as well as redwood, a
western product.

HARD WOODS.--Of the hard woods, cherry is the most desirable for the
carpenter's tool. For working purposes it has all the advantages of a
soft wood, and none of its disadvantages. It is not apt to warp, like
poplar or birch, and its shrinking unit is less than that of any other
wood, excepting redwood. There is practically no shrinkage in redwood.

THE MOST DIFFICULT WOODS.--Ash is by far the most difficult wood to
work. While not as hard as oak, it has the disadvantage that the entire
board is seamed with growth ribs which are extremely hard, while the
intervening layers between these ribs are soft, and have open pores, so
that, for instance, in making a mortise, the chisel is liable to follow
the hard ribs, if the grain runs at an angle to the course of the
mortise.

THE HARD-RIBBED GRAIN IN WOOD.--This peculiarity of the grain in ash
makes it a beautiful wood when finished. Of the light-colored woods, oak
only excels it, because in this latter wood each year's growth shows a
wider band, and the interstices between the ribs have stronger
contrasting colors than ash; so that in filling the surface, before
finishing it, the grain of the wood is brought out with most effective
clearness and with a beautifully blended contrast.

THE EASIEST WORKING WOODS.--The same thing may be said, relatively,
concerning cherry and walnut. While cherry has a beautiful finishing
surface, the blending contrasts of colors are not so effective as in
walnut.

Oregon pine is extremely hard to work, owing to the same difficulties
experienced in handling ash; but the finished Oregon pine surface makes
it a most desirable material for certain articles of furniture.

Do not attempt to employ this nor ash until you have mastered the trade.
Confine yourself to pine, poplar, cherry and walnut. These woods are all
easily obtainable everywhere, and from them you can make a most
creditable variety of us