Part 22 (1/2)

The wood is used largely for cross-ties, fence posts, telegraph and telephone poles, and to a limited extent for lumber in general construction.

B. Woods without resin ducts.

1. Hemlock. The wood has a disagreeable, rancid odor, is splintery, not resinous, with decided contrast between early and late wood. Color light brown with a slight tinge of red, the heart little if any darker than the sapwood. Hemlock makes a rather poor lumber which is used for general construction, also for cross-ties, and pulp.

2. Balsam fir. Usually odorless, not splintery, not resinous, with little contrast between early and late wood. Color white or very light brown with a pinkish hue to the late wood. Heartwood little if any darker than the sapwood. Closely resembles spruce, from which it can be distinguished by its absence of resin ducts.

The wood is used for paper pulp in mixture with spruce. Also for general construction to some extent.

3. Cypress. Odorless except in dark-colored specimens which are somewhat rancid. Smooth surface of sound wood looks and feels greasy or waxy.

Moderate contrast between early and late wood. Color varies from straw color to dark brown, often with reddish and greenish tinge.

Heartwood more deeply colored than the sapwood but without distinct boundary line.

Wood used in general construction, especially in places where durability is required; also for s.h.i.+ngles, cooperage, posts, and poles.

4. Red Cedar. Has a distinct aromatic odor. Wood uniform-textured; late wood usually very thin, inconspicuous. Color deep reddish brown or purple, becoming dull upon exposure; numerous minute red dots often visible under lens. Sapwood white. Red cedar can be distinguished from all the other conifers mentioned by the deep color of the wood and the very distinct aromatic odor.

Wood largely used for pencils; also for chests and cabinets, posts, and poles. It is very durable in contact with the ground.

_Western red cedar_ is lighter, softer, less deeply colored and less fragrant than the common Eastern cedar. It grows along the Pacific Coast and is extensively used for s.h.i.+ngles throughout the country.

5. Redwood. Wood odorless and tasteless, uniform-textured, light and weak, rather coa.r.s.e and harsh. Color light cherry. Close inspection under lens of a small split surface will reveal many little resin ma.s.ses that appear as rows of black or amber beads which are characteristic of this wood.

Redwood is confined to portions of the Pacific Coast. It is used for house construction, interior finish, tanks and flumes, s.h.i.+ngles, posts, and boxes. It is very durable.

II. WOODS WITH PORES--BROADLEAF, OR SO-CALLED ”HARDWOODS”

A. Ring-porous.

1. Woods with a portion of the rays very large and conspicuous.

Oak. The wood of all of the oaks is heavy, hard, and strong. They may be separated into two groups. The white oaks and the red or black oaks.

(a) White oaks. Pores in early wood plugged with tyloses, collected in a few rows. Fig. 146. The transition from the large pores to the small ones in the late wood is abrupt. The latter are very small, numerous, and appear as irregular grayish bands widening toward the outer edge of the annual ring. Impossible usually to see into the small pores with magnifier.

(b) Red or black oaks. Pores are usually open though tyloses may occur, Fig. 147; the early wood pores are in several rows and the transition to the small ones in late wood is gradual. The latter are fewer, larger and more distinct than in white oak and it is possible to see into them with a hand lens.

The wood of the oaks is used for all kinds of furniture, interior finish, cooperage, vehicles, cross-ties, posts, fuel, and construction timber.

2. Woods with none of the rays large and conspicuous.

(a) Pores in late wood small and in radial lines, wood parenchyma in inconspicuous tangential lines.

Chestnut. Pores in early wood in a broad band, oval in shape, mostly free from tyloses. Pores in late wood in flame-like radial white patches that are plainly visible without lens. Color medium brown.

Nearly odorless and tasteless. Chestnut is readily separated from oak by its weight and absence of large rays; from black ash by the arrangement of the pores in the late wood; from sa.s.safras by the arrangement of the pores in the late wood, the less conspicuous rays, and the lack of distinct color.

The wood is used for cross-ties, telegraph and telephone poles, posts, furniture, cooperage, and tannin extract. Durable in contact with the ground.