90 FOREST COMMISSIONERS REPORT. 



spruce, 31 per cent was white pine, and 10 per cent hemlock. 

 About one-tenth of the total cut, or 82,273,000 feet b. m., con- 

 sisted of mixed hardwoods, principally birch, oak, and maple. 



As shown by this investigation, the wood-using industries of 

 the State which require lumber as raw material consume 245,- 

 614,150 feet b. m. in one year. About five-sixths of this was 

 grown within the State, while the remainder was brought in 

 from other States or foreign countries. 



The kinds of wood used, the quantity of each, the average 

 cost at the factory, and the sources are shown in Table i. 



Trees are classified as hardwoods, or broad-leaved species, 

 and softwoods or needle-leaf species. The softwoods include 

 the pines, spruces, fir, hemlock, and cedar; while among the 

 hardwoods are the oaks, maples, birches, ashes, and beech. 



Nomenclature. 



The manufacturers of Maine report the use of 52 kinds of 

 wood, but there is doubtless a greater number because many 

 species are not distinguished in the trades but are sold under 

 general names. For example, this report lists all spruce report- 

 ed by the manufacturers as red spruce; but there is no doubt 

 that some white and some black spruce is included in the fig^- 

 ures, since about 15 per cent of the spruce stand of the State is 

 white spruce, and about 5 per cent black spruce. The red 

 spruce is, of course, the most valuable for lumber and for pulp, 

 while white spruce is used to some extent, and black spruce 

 almost not at all. The same lack of definite distinction holds 

 with other trees. As shown in Table i, a large quantity of 

 aspen was used. This includes, without doubt, both the quaking 

 aspen and the large-tooth aspen. Some gray birch was used 

 with paper birch in making spools and other turned articles, 

 but reports do not indicate the relative amounts. Among the 

 oaks it is quite possible that in the reports on red oak there 

 is included some scarlet oak ; and that some burr oak and some 

 swamp oak are included with white oak. Manufacturers re- 

 port soft maple, meaning either red maple or silver maple. Be- 

 cause of the large proportion of red maple in the State, it has 

 air been classed as red. Again, manufacturers recognize two 

 kinds of ash; white and brown. The larger part of this so- 



