Wood and Forest Part 29

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

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

62

SOUR GUM. TUPELO. PEPPERIDGE. BLACK GUM.

Tupelo, the Indian name.

_Nyssa sylvatica_ Marshal.

_Nyssa_, from Nysa, the realm of moist vegetation and the home of _Dio-nysus_ (Bacchus) (the tree grows in low wet lands); _sylvatica_, refers to its habit of forest growth.

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

HABITAT: (See map); best in Southern Appalachian mountains.

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

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TREE: Height, 40'-50', even 100'; diameter, 1'6"-3'6", even 5'; variable in form; bark, brown, deeply fissured and scaly; leaves, in sprays, short, petioled, brilliant scarlet in autumn; fruit, bluish black, sour, fleshy drupe.

APPEARANCE OF WOOD: Color, pale yellow, sap-wood, white, hardly distinguishable; diffuse-porous; rings, not plain; grain fine, twisted and interwoven; rays, numerous, thin.

PHYSICAL QUALITIES: Medium heavy (25th in this list); 39 lbs. per cu.

ft.; sp. gr., 0.6356; strong (34th in this list); elasticity, medium (51st in this list); hard (20th in this list); shrinkage, 5 or 6 per cent.; warps and checks badly; not durable if exposed; hard to work; splits hard, tough.

COMMON USES: Wagon hubs, handles, yokes, wooden shoe soles, docks and wharves, rollers in gla.s.s factories.

REMARKS: The best grades closely resemble yellow poplar.

[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.]

63

BLACK ASH. HOOP ASH.

Hoop, refers to its use for barrel hoops.

_Fraxinus nigra_ Marshall. _Fraxinus sambucifolia._

_Fraxinus_, from a Greek word (_phraxis_) meaning split, refers to the cleavability of the wood; _sambucifolia_, refers to the fact that the leaves are in odor like those of Elder (Sambucus).

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

HABITAT: (See map); best in moist places.

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

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TREE: Height, 80'-90'; diameter, 1'-1-1/2'; slenderest of the forest trees, upright branches; bark, gray tinged with red, irregular plates, with thin scales; leaves, 10"-16" long, compound, 7 to 11 leaflets, in autumn rusty brown; fruit, single samaras in panicles.

APPEARANCE OF WOOD: Color, dark brown, sap-wood light; ring-porous; rings, well defined; grain, straight, burls often form highly prized veneers; rays, numerous and thin.

PHYSICAL QUALITIES: Medium heavy (27th in this list); 39 lbs. per cu.

ft.; sp. gr., 0.6318; strong (38th in this list); elasticity, medium (12th in this list); hard (23d in this list); shrinkage, 5 per cent.; warps, but not very much; not durable when exposed; hard to work; separates easily in layers, hence used for splints.

COMMON USES: Interior finish, cabinet work, fencing, barrel hoops.

REMARKS: The flexibility of the wood largely determines its uses.

[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.]

64

OREGON ASH.

_Fraxinus oregona_ Nuttall.

_Fraxinus_, from a Greek word (_phraxis_) meaning split, refers to the cleavability of the wood; _oregona_, named for the State of Oregon.

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

HABITAT: (See map); best in southern Oregon.

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

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TREE: Height, 50'-80'; diameter, 1'-1-1/2', even 4'; branches, stout, erect; bark, grayish brown, deep interrupted fissures, broad, flat ridges, exfoliates; leaves, 5"-14" long; pinnately compound, 5 to 7 leaflets; fruit, single samaras in cl.u.s.ters.

APPEARANCE OF WOOD: Color, brown, sap-wood thick, lighter; ring-porous; rings, plainly marked by large, open, scattered pores; grain, coa.r.s.e, straight; rays, numerous, thin.

PHYSICAL QUALITIES: Weight, medium (37th in this list); 35 lbs.

per cu. ft.; sp. gr., 0.5731; medium strong (50th in this list); elasticity, medium (48th in this list); medium hard (29th in this list); shrinkage, 5 per cent.; warps,............; not durable; hard to work, tough; splits with difficulty.

COMMON USES: Furniture, vehicles, cooperage.

REMARKS: A valuable timber tree of the Pacific coast.

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