Wood and Forest Part 18

BLACK WILLOW.

_Salix nigra_ Marshall.

_Salix_, from two Celtic words meaning near-water; _nigra_ refers to the dark bark.

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

HABITAT: (See map); grows largest in southern Illinois, Indiana and Texas, on moist banks.

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

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TREE: Height, 30'-40', sometimes 120'; diameter, 1'-2', rarely 3'-4'; stout, upright, spreading branches, from common base; bark, rough and dark brown or black, often tinged with yellow or brown; leaves, lanceolate, often scythe-shaped, serrate edges; fruit, a capsule containing small, hairy seeds.

APPEARANCE OF WOOD: Color, light reddish brown, sap-wood, thin, whitish; diffuse-porous; rings, obscure; grain, close and weak; rays, obscure.

PHYSICAL QUALITIES: Light in weight (51st in this list); 27.77 lbs.

per cu. ft.; sp. gr. 0.4456; weak (65th in this list); very brittle (64th in this list); soft (46th in this list); shrinks considerably; warps and checks badly; soft, weak, indents without breaking; splits easily.

COMMON USES: Lap-boards, baskets, water wheels, fuel and charcoal for gunpowder.

REMARKS: Its characteristic of indenting without breaking has given it use as lining for carts and as cricket bats. Of the many willows, the most tree like in proportion in eastern North America. Bark contains salycylic acid.

[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.]

29

b.u.t.tERNUT. WHITE WALNUT.

b.u.t.ternut, because the nuts are rich in oil.

_Juglans cinerea_ Linnaeus.

_Juglans_ means Jove's nut; _cinerea_ refers to ash-colored bark.

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

HABITAT:: (See map); best in Ohio basin.

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

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TREE: Height, 75'-100'; diameter, 2'-4'; branches low, broad spreading deep roots; bark, grayish brown, deep fissures broad ridges; leaves 15"-30" long, compound 11 to 17 leaflets, hairy and rough; fruit, oblong, pointed, edible, oily nut.

APPEARANCE OF WOOD: Color, light brown, darkening with exposure, sap-wood whitish; diffuse, porous; rings, not prominent; grain, fairly straight, coa.r.s.e, takes high polish; rays, distinct, thin, obscure.

PHYSICAL QUALITIES: Light in weight (56th in this list); 25 lbs. per cu. ft.; sp. gr. 0.4086; weak (57th in this list); elasticity, medium (52d in this list); soft (47th in this list); shrinkage ....... per cent.; warps little; durable; easy to work; splits easily.

COMMON USES: Cabinet work, inside trim.

REMARKS: Green husks of fruit give yellow dye. Sugar made from sap.

[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.]

30

BLACK WALNUT.

_Juglans nigra_ Linnaeus.

_Juglans_ means Jove's nut; _nigra_ refers to the dark wood.

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

HABITAT: (See map); best in western North Carolina and Tennessee.

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

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TREE: Height, 90'-120', even 150'; diameter, 3'

to even 8'; clean of branches for 50' to 60'; bark, brownish, almost black, deep fissures, and broad, rounded ridges; leaves, 1'-2' long, compound pinnate, 15 to 23 leaflets, fall early; fruit, nut, with adherent husk, and edible kernel.

APPEARANCE OF WOOD: Color, chocolate brown, sap-wood much lighter; diffuse-porous; rings, marked by slightly larger pores; grain, straight; rays, numerous, thin, not conspicuous.

PHYSICAL QUALITIES: Weight, medium (31st in this list); 38 lbs. per cu. ft.; sp. gr. 0.6115; strong (32d in this list); elastic (23d in this list); hard (21st in this list); shrinkage, 5 per cent.; warps little; very durable; easy to work; splits with some difficulty, takes and holds nails well.

COMMON USES: Gun stocks (since 17th century), veneers, cabinet making.

REMARKS: Formerly much used for furniture, now scarce. Plentiful in California. Most valuable wood of North American forests. Wood superior to European variety.

[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.]

31

MOCKERNUT. BLACK HICKORY. BULL-NUT. BIG-BUD HICKORY. WHITE-HEART HICKORY. KING NUT.

Mockernut refers to disappointing character of nuts.