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Hardwood Record — Veneer & Panel Section 



May 10, 1919 



50^ to the Korean frontier. It reaches a height of 60 

 feet and a circumference of about 5 feet. This species 

 is also widely spread throughout northern and western 

 China w^here it is common in mountain woods at low 

 altitude from Chihli, through Hupeh and Sechwan to 

 Yunnan, where it is reported as being smaller in size 

 than in Manchuria. 



Botanically, the tree is closely related to Siebold's wal- 

 nut which is known to have a light soft wood somewhat 

 resembling our native butternut. Presumably the wood 

 of Manchurian walnut is similar. The tree is highly 

 valued for its fruits and is said to be suitable for plant- 

 ing in northern latitudes where the English walnut has 

 not proved hardy. 



Siebold's walnut (Juglans sieboldiana) is found 

 throughout the whole of Japan. It reaches a height of 

 50 feet and a circumference of 5 feet. It is also native 

 to the Island of Saghalien. The nuts are an important 

 article of food in Japan, and the wood, while not listed 



among the more valuable timbers of the country, is used 

 in ornamental work and is valued for gunstocks. The 

 species has also been designated as Juglans aliantifoiia. 



Cordate walnut (Juglans cordiformis) is another 

 Japanese species closely related to Siebold's walnut. It 

 occurs along the banks of rivers in temperate regions of 

 Japan and is rare in the mountains. The lumber is prob- 

 ably not distinguishable from the species to which it is 

 closely related. 



Some woods entirely unrelated to the true walnut and 

 possessing no qualities to justify that designation are: 

 "Aquatic walnut" (Juglans aquatica), "Squamous wal- 

 not" (Juglans squamosa), and satin walnut. The first 

 two are species of hickory and the last is a name used 

 abroad to designate our native sweet gum (Liquidambar 

 styraciflua). California redwood has also been im- 

 properly designated abroad as satin walnut. 



The siris tree (Albizzia lebbek) of tropical Asia and 

 Africa is frequently called East Indian walnut. 



Yellow Poplar Veneers 



Their Manufacture and Some of Their Customary Uses 



NEXT AFTER RED GUM, yellow poplar furnishes and Tennessee, the leader of all being North Carolina, 

 more veneer than any other single tree species in The tree grows in most of the states east of the Mis- 

 America. Yellow pine, cottonwood, and maple rank sissippi and in some west of that river, but it is scarce 

 above it on the list of products as usually published, but in the northern states, though some very fine yellow 

 each of these consists of a group of related trees, at least poplar grows in southern Canada. The best of its range 

 four pines, three or four maples, and several cotton- is reckoned to extend from Arkansas northeasterly and 

 w^oods, each in its turn grouped as one; but yellow easterly to the Atlantic coast, ending in southern Ver- 

 poplar is a single tree, there being only one species. mont. 



This may be known by different names, as whitewood. It is cut in veneers in practically all the thicknesses in 



tulip tree, and others, but all are the same. In the north- which other woods are cut, but more than half of all is 



em states it is not unusual to call the aspen and other reduced to 1-20, 1-16, 1-8, and 3-16 of an inch. 



related species of cottonwood by the name of poplar, and It is reduced by all three processes, rotary, sliced, and 



some confusion may result on that account; but these are sawed, but more than nine-tenths is cut by the rotary 



no nearer akin to yellow poplar than they are akin to process. 



elm or hickory. Yellow poplar is solitary among Amer- It is difficult to determine what industry is the largest 



ican trees, and no great difficulty is experienced in keep- user of yellow poplar veneer, since few records are kept 



ing its products separate from all other woods. in which its use is compared with the use of other kinds 



It ranks high among all others. It does not owe its of veneer; but it is known that makers of furniture. 



Tank to beauty of figure, for it is extremely plain in musical instruments, and interior finish for offices, stores, 



appearance. It is not hard like maple, not strong like and other business houses are large users. Much of the 



ash, nor tough like hickory; yet it is as popular as they cheaper grades are made into boxes and crates, but all 



are, but in its own particular field. going into those commodities is not low grade. Makers 



Most of the yellow poplar that comes out of the of boxes use some very fine yellow poplar veneers, 



forest is made into lumber and as such it goes into nearly The trunk of yellow poplar is inclined to grow tall 



every industry that uses wood; but much is converted and shapely, free from limbs and other defects, and the 



into veneer, and as veneer it finds a welcome wherever wood is clean and clear. It is ideal for veneer. Few 



that article is used, from the manufacturer of cheap berry knots are met with, especially in large timber, and in 



toxes and thin trays up to the finest furniture and mus- grading the veneer, a high percentage of first-class stock 



ical instruments, which are reckoned among the highest Is secured. Perhaps no tree yields a higher percentage 



uses of wood. Though veneer of this vjrood is manu- of excellent stuff. 



factured in nineteen states, more than half of all is cred- The wood possesses excellent seasoning qualities. It 



ited to the three states. North Carolina. West Virginia, dries easily, either in the open air or in the kiln, and it 



