Wood and Forest

The figures are the average of radial and tangential shrinkages.

Footnote 4: How much different woods vary may be seen by the following table, taken from Filibert Roth, Timber, Forest Service Bulletin No. 10, p. 28:

WEIGHT OF KILN-DRIED WOOD OF DIFFERENT SPECIES.

Approximate.

Specific weight. Weight of

1 cubic foot. 1,000 feet of lumber.

Pounds Pounds

(a) Very heavy woods:

Hickory, oak, persimmon, osage, orange, black locust, hackberry, blue beech, best of elm, and ash 0.70-0.80 42-48 3,700

(b) Heavy woods:

Ash, elm, cherry, birch, maple, beech, walnut, sour gum, coffee tree, honey locust, best of southern pine, and tamarack .60-.70 36-42 3,200

(c) Woods of medium weight:

Southern pine, pitch pine, tamarack, Douglas spruce, western hemlock, sweet gum, soft maple, sycamore, light sassafras, mulberry, grades of birch and cherry .50-.60 30-36 2,700

(d) Light woods:

Norway and bull pine, red cedar, cypress, hemlock, the heavier spruce and fir, redwood, basswood, chestnut, butternut, tulip, catalpa, buckeye, heavier grades of poplar .40-.50 24-30 2,200

(e) Very light woods:

White pine, spruce, fir, white cedar, poplar .30-.40 18-24 1,800

Footnote 5: For table of weights of different woods see Sargent, Jesup Collection, pp. 153-157.

Footnote 6: See Forestry Bulletin No. 70, pp. 11, 12, and Forestry Circular No. 108.

Footnote 7: For table of strengths of different woods, see Sargent, Jesup Collection, pp. 166 ff.

Footnote 8: For table of elasticity of different woods, see Sargent, Jesup Collection, pp. 163 ff.

Footnote 9: For table of hardnesses of different woods, see Sargent, Jesup Collection, pp. 173 ff.

Footnote 10: For detailed characteristics of different woods see Chapter III.

THE PROPERTIES OF WOOD.

References* Moisture and Shrinkage. Roth, For. Bull., No. 10, pp. 25-37.

Busbridge, Sci. Am. Sup. No. 1500. Oct. 1, '04.

Weight, Strength, Cleavability, Elasticity and Toughness. Roth, For. Bull., 10, p. 37-50.

Boulger, pp. 89-108, 129-140.

Roth, First Book, pp. 229-233.

Sargent, Jesup Collection, pp. 153-176.

Forest Circulars Nos. 108 and 139.

* For general bibliography, see p. 4.

White Pine, Weymouth Pine.

Named for Lord Weymouth, who cultivated it in England.

Pinus strobus Linnaeus.

Pinus, the classical Latin name; strobus refers to the cone, or strobile, from a Greek word, strobus, meaning twist.

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 clusters 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.

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.

Cross-section, magnified 37? diameters.

Radial Section, life size.

Tangential Section, life size.

Western White Pine.

Pinus monticola Douglas.

Pinus, the classical Latin name; monticola means mountain-dweller.

Habitat.

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

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.

Leaf.

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.

Cross-section, magnified 37? diameters.

Radial Section, life size.

Tangential Section, life size.