Wood and Forest Part 9

NOTES.

The photographs of tangential and radial sections are life size.

The microphotographs are of cross-sections and are enlarged 37-1/2 diameters.

Following the precedent of U. S. Forest Bulletin No. 17, Sudworth's _Check List of the Forest Trees of the United States_, the complicated rules for the capitalization of the names of species are abandoned and they are uniformly not capitalized.

On pages 192-195 will be found lists of the woods described, arranged in the order of their comparative weight, strength, elasticity, and hardness. These lists are based upon the figures in Sargent's _The Jesup Collection_.

In the appendix, p. 289, will be found a key for distinguishing the various kinds of wood.

Information as to current wholesale prices in the princ.i.p.al markets of the country can be had from the U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, The Forest Service, Washington, D. C., _Record of Wholesale Prices of Lumber, List A._ These lists are published periodically. No attempt is made in this book to give prices because: (1) only lists of wholesale prices are available; (2) the cuts and grades differ considerably, especially in soft woods (conifers); (3) prices are constantly varying; (4) the prices differ much in different localities.

1

WHITE PINE, WEYMOUTH PINE.

Named for Lord Weymouth, who cultivated it in England.

_Pinus strobus_ Linnaeus.

_Pinus_, the cla.s.sical Latin name; _strobus_ refers to the cone, or strobile, from a Greek word, _strobus_, meaning twist.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Habitat.]

HABITAT: (See map); now best in Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TREE: Height, 100'-120', even 200'; diameter, 2'-4'; branches in whorls, cleans poorly; bark, dark gray, divided by deep longitudinal fissures into broad ridges; leaves in cl.u.s.ters of 5, 3"-5" long; cone drooping, 4"-10" long.

APPEARANCE OF WOOD: Color, heart-wood, very light brown, almost cream color, sap-wood, nearly white; non-porous; rings, fine but distinct; grain, straight; pith rays, very faint; resin ducts, small, inconspicuous.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Leaf.]

PHYSICAL QUALITIES: Weight, very light (59th in this list); 27 lbs.

per cu. ft.; sp. gr. 0.3854; strength, medium (55th in this list); elasticity, medium (47th in this list); soft (57th in this list); shrinkage 3 per cent.; warps very little; durability, moderate; works easily in every way; splits easily but nails well.

COMMON USES: Doors, window sashes and other carpentry, pattern-making, cabinet-work, matches.

REMARKS: This best of American woods is now rapidly becoming scarce and higher in price. Its uses are due to its uniform grain, on account of which it is easily worked and stands well. Known in the English market as yellow pine.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Radial Section, life size.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Cross-section, magnified 37-1/2 diameters.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Tangential Section, life size.]

2

WESTERN WHITE PINE.

_Pinus monticola_ Douglas.

_Pinus_, the cla.s.sical Latin name; _monticola_ means mountain-dweller.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Habitat.]

HABITAT: (See map); grows at great elevations, 7,000'-10,000'. Best in northern Idaho.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Leaf.]

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TREE: Height, 100'-160'; diameter, 4' to even 8'; branches, slender, spreading; bark, gray and brown, divided into squarish plates by deep longitudinal and cross fissures; leaves, 5 in sheath; cones, 12"18" long.

APPEARANCE OF WOOD: Color, light brown or red, sap-wood nearly white; non-porous; rings, summer wood, thin and not conspicuous; grain, straight; rays, numerous, obscure; resin ducts, numerous and conspicuous tho not large.

PHYSICAL QUALITIES: Weight, very light (58th in this list); 24 lbs.

per cu. ft.; sp. gr. 0.3908; strength, medium (56th in this list); elastic (35th in this list); soft (63d in this list); shrinkage, 3 per cent.; warps little; moderately durable; easy to work; splits readily but nails well.

COMMON USES: Lumber for construction and interior finish.

REMARKS: Closely resembles _Pinus Strobus_ in appearance and quality of wood.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Radial Section, life size.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Cross-section, magnified 37-1/2 diameters.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Tangential Section, life size.]

3

SUGAR PINE.

Sugar refers to sweetish exudation.

_Pinus lambertiana_ Douglas.

_Pinus_, the cla.s.sical Latin name; _lambertiana_, from the botanist, A. B. Lambert, whose chief work was on Pines.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Habitat.]

HABITAT: (See map); grows on high elevations (5,000'), best in northern California.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Leaf.]

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TREE: Height, 100'-300'; diameter, 15"-20"; branches, in remote regular whorls; bark, rich purple or brown, thick, deep irregular fissures making long, flaky ridges; leaves, stout, rigid, in bundles of five; cones, 10"-18" long.