HARDWOOD RECORD 



Some Valuable Foreign Woods, 



Circassian Walnut. 



■J„Olam rcvm—Uim. 

 Anyone ^vho lias observed witli fidelity the 

 varying and constantly improving methods 

 of furniture manufacture cannot fail to be 

 impressed with the great changes which have 

 also taken place in the selection of woods 

 for tills purpose, or rather the distinct modes 

 which have come and gone, much as do 

 fashions in vehicles, clothing, and far less 

 durable articles. Years ago black walnut 

 liad an extensive vogue for both furniture 

 and interior finish, and was'within the reach 

 of everybody, while mahogany and rosewood 

 were the popular choice for high-class cab- 

 inet work. Later black walnut was relegated 

 to the cellar and the attic, and only now 

 are old pieces being brought from their ob- 

 scurity and refurbished to once more occupy 

 a conspicuous place among the household 

 equipment; while many who are not for- 



ABTICLE IV. 



Odessa, the great outlet of southern Eussia 

 on the Black Sea, is the chief market. 



These logs are brought to market by small 

 crafts from along the seacoast, and from 

 the rivers which penetrate the interior. The 

 walnuts do not thrive on the open mountain 

 sides, but their growth is confined to the 

 coves and valleys between. 



The trees are not tall, their boles rarely 

 being over twelve feet in height. They are 

 taken out with the roots attached. When 

 tlie tree has been felled it is usually hewn 

 to about the original shape, tapering from 

 the limbs to the swell of the roots. 



The logs are bought from the Armenians 

 by the pound or ton, never by actual feet 

 measure, as our domestic walnut is sold. 

 The average price obtained at the shipping 

 point is $90 per ton, or about 4 cents per 

 pound. 



It is a matter of surprise to many to learn 



and soil, which the same kind of seedling 

 may encounter; but to the laity it would 

 seem that there should be a quite different 

 and more specific classification for the va- 

 rious types. 



As to physical qualities, the Circassian 

 walnut is heavy, hard and easily worked; it 

 has an open grain, fine or coarse appearing, 

 according to the cut. It shows a lustrous 

 surface, and often a fancy figure, or intricate 

 ' ' burled ' ' effect. The heartwood is dark 

 brown and the sapwood a delicate fawn or 

 softer shade. The annual rings are clearly 

 defined but not striking, becoming almost en- 

 tirely obscure in very dark specimens. A 

 radial section is always lighter in tone than 

 a transverse, and the pores show up distinct 

 and shining. 



The bark of the tree is thick and fissured. 

 Its character is plainly visible in one of the 

 accompanying illustrations. 



•|M: 



IMi:\ CIUCASSIAN WALNUT LOG. 



tunate enough to possess any of, these an- 

 tiques can scarcely afford to purchase them. 

 Today there is probably no more popular 

 wood, and certainly few more expensive for 

 both furniture and interior finish than the 

 beautiful Circassian walnut. Not only is 

 it comparatively rare and difiicult of access, 

 but its magnificent figure, delicate tones and 

 cool, velvety texture would still make it cost- 

 ly were it more plentiful and readily attain- 

 able. It is brought from the shores of the 

 Black Sea, the growth extending through 

 southern Russia and as far east as Persia. 

 The trees probably reach their maximum de- 

 velopment in the Caucasus mountains. They 

 are hauled out with a great deal of difiiculty, 

 owing to poor roads and insuflScient facilities, 

 and shipped in the form of logs, both round 

 and hewn, to various ports, but probably 



that Circassian walnut is of the same family, 

 genus and species as the well-known Cali- 

 fornia walnut, and that it is practically the 

 same tree which is known as French, Italian, 

 English and Persian walnut. While the fruit 

 and general appearance of the trees which 

 grow in these several localities are much the 

 same, and they were ages ago transplanted 

 from the same parent stock, their wood varies 

 to a marked degree, and should not be eon- 

 fused; witness the fact that while the wal- 

 nut of California is very little used for 

 lumber, but almost entirely for its nut 

 product, the Circassian is one of the most 

 valuable timber trees of the world. 



Authorities upon the structure and char- 

 acteristics of woods affirm that these differ- 

 ing qualities in the Jtiglans regia are due to 

 different environment in the way of climate 



While possibly the fine old walnuts of 

 England and the Persian trees show more of 

 the burled effect, the Circassian type shows 

 vivid stripes of brown and black, which 

 give it an appearance different from that of 

 any other wood. It is susceptible of such a 

 fine finish that piano makers and cabinet 

 manufacturers prize it greatly for high-grade 

 work. The burl consists of a peculiar wart 

 or knot that forms upon the tree when young. 

 It may be the sting of an insect or some 

 similar wound, but at least it causes the 

 grain to become so involved and twisted as 

 to produce a wonderfully curious and intri- 

 cate pattern. No two specimens are alike 

 and the strange figure and combinations 

 of lines form many a unique pattern, es- 

 pecially if selected parts are combined. One 

 combination may form the perfect similitude 



