A considerable difference of opinions exists among grainers as to the best method of obtaining their grounds, indeed the most experienced men are by no means agreed as to precisely what colour a ground should be. The following mixtures will produce good grounds provided that really first-class colours are employed.

Maple.

—White lead tinted with a very little vermilion and about an equal quantity of lemon chrome. Some prefer yellow ochre only, others ochre and raw umber in the proportion of four ounces ochre and one ounce umber to thirty pounds of lead.

Medium Oak.

—Add French ochre to white lead in the proportions of about one hundred and twenty of lead to five of ochre. Add a little burnt umber.

Light Oak and Birch.

—Eighty parts of white lead to one of yellow ochre produces a good ground, but sixty pounds of white lead, half a pound of French ochre, and one ounce of lemon chrome is sometimes preferred.

Dark Oak.

—Sixty parts of white lead and one part of golden ochre may be used, or the following mixture if preferred. Six pounds of white lead, one pound of French ochre, two ounces medium Venetian red and two ounces of burnt umber.

Satinwood.

—Mix six ounces of lemon chrome to fifteen pounds of pure white lead and add a little deep English vermilion.

Pollard Oak.

—Tint one hundred pounds of white lead with twenty-seven pounds of French ochre, four pounds of burnt umber, and three and three-quarter pounds medium Venetian red.

Pitch Pine.

—Tint sixty pounds of white lead with half pound medium Venetian red, and quarter pound of French ochre.

Italian Walnut.

—One pound of French ochre mixed with ten pounds of pure white lead and four ounces of burnt umber and four ounces medium Venetian red give this ground.

Knotted Oak.

—Sixty pounds of white lead, nine pounds of French ochre, and three and half pounds burnt umber.

Rosewood and Dark Mahogany.

—Four pounds of medium Venetian red, one pound of orange chrome yellow, and one pound of burnt umber, or a little less burnt umber may be used according to the strength.

Mahogany, Dark.

—Four pounds of medium Venetian red, one pound of orange chrome yellow, and one pound of burnt umber, or a little less burnt umber may be used according to the strength.

Mahogany, Light.

—Mix six pounds of pure white lead with one pound medium Venetian red and five ounces of burnt umber.

American Walnut.

—Thirty pounds pure white lead tinted with nine pounds of French ochre, four pounds burnt umber, and one pound medium Venetian red.

Antique Oak.

—Thirty pounds pure white lead tinted with nine pounds of French ochre, four pounds burnt umber, and one pound medium Venetian red.

Oak, Antique.

—Thirty pounds pure white lead tinted with nine pounds of French ochre, four pounds burnt umber, and one pound medium Venetian red.

Ash.

—White lead tinted with a very little vermilion and about an equal quantity of lemon chrome. Some prefer yellow ochre only, others ochre and raw umber in the proportion of four ounces ochre and one ounce umber to thirty pounds of lead.

Birch.

—Eighty parts of white lead to one of yellow ochre produces a good ground, but sixty pounds of white lead, one-eighth of a pound of French ochre and one ounce of lemon chrome is sometimes preferred.

Our examples of graining grounds with their mixtures must be taken as an average arrived at from comparison of the methods employed by different painters in various parts of the country. No doubt some readers will not agree with them and will think that the colour should be lighter or darker as the case may be. As we have explained, the mixtures given are those which may be considered an average, and a variation of them may be made according to individual taste and judgment.

Graining Colours.

Having given the ground colours, we now proceed to give those which are used for graining. It will be understood that the method of obtaining a graining colour varies just as much as it does in the case of the ground colour, according to the opinion of the painter. The following are given as what may be safely followed to get an average good result.

Light Oak.

—Mix one-third burnt umber with two-thirds raw sienna, and add a very little drop black.

Ash.

—Same as Light Oak.

Chesnut.

—Mix raw sienna, vandykes and raw umber with a very little burnt sienna.

Bird’s Eye Maple.

—Mix raw umber and raw sienna with a little vandyke brown or ivory black.

Pollard Oak.

—Mix burnt umber, vandyke, raw and burnt siennas, and add a little black or ultramarine.

Cherry.

—Use raw and burnt siennas and raw umber.

American Walnut.

—Burnt umber to which is added a little vandyke brown will give a good graining colour for walnut.

Mahogany.

—Burnt umber, burnt sienna and vandyke brown, with the addition of a little crimson lake for over graining, will answer well for mahogany.

Rosewood.

—Vandyke brown, with the addition of a little black, should be used, and rose pink may be added if desired.