November 10, 1916 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



31 



the New Forest felling suitable timber, that is being converted for many 

 purposes in connection with the war, is being engaged in. In connection 

 with the felling of British-grown timber several, so far eight, sawmills, 

 typical of the Canadian lumbering industry, have been sent to this coun- 

 try, and it is interesting to watch with what precision and ease the 

 work of converting the trees into, railway sleepers and boarding is being 

 carried out. 



Lumbering Prospects in New Brunswick 



Consul E. V. Richardson, who is stationed at Moncton, New Bruns- 

 wick, under date of October 17, 191G. says that lumbermen in the por- 

 tion of the Province of New Brunswick that lies along the Strait of 

 Northumberland and the rivers tributar.v thereto, are reported to be 

 making preparations for a bigger cut on the Miramichi waters this winter 

 than last. The increase is expected to be substantial, and already crews 

 are going into the woods to start operations. 



The cut on the Miramichi, the river that near its mouth supports the 

 towns of Newcastle and Chatham, amounted last year to 68,200,000 super- 

 ficial feet ; the estimate for this season's cut is over 90.000.000 super- 

 ficial feet. One concern alone anticipates cutting 12,000,000 superficial 

 feet for the mill at Nelson, near Newcastle, and will probably provide 

 the Victoria mill with a like amount. 



There has apparently arisen no marked difficulty in finding labor for 

 lumbering operations in this part of the Province. Farther west, how- 

 ever, along the St. John river, labor is said to be scarce, and It is be- 

 lieved that French Canadians from Quebec Province, with perhaps some 

 "foreign labor, will have to be brought into New Brunswick to enable the 

 lumbermen to get their stock down to the mills with ordinary dispatch 

 and in requisite quantities. 



The lumber market at present is firm and good prices prevail. 



Borneo's Forest Resources 



The British province of North Borneo is preparing tO exploit its forest 

 resources and has employed an American, D. M. Matthews, to take charge 

 of the forests. A survey has been made of a large tract whereby an 

 estimate has been made of the quantity that may be cut per acre. This 

 averages 10,000 board feet. It is nearly all hardwood of tropical types. 

 An experienced botanist has been employed to catalogue th^ species, 

 many of which are practically new in the timber world, though generally 

 simihir to the timbers of the Philippines. It is expected that the largest 

 and most constant market for Borneo woods will be found in China. It is 

 not believed that much competition between Borneo and American lum- 

 ber will result in the Orient, since we send softwoods principally, while 

 most tropical timbers are hardwoods. • 



High Price of English Ash 



The deni.'tnd for ash in aeroplane work in England has raised the price 

 of the native wood threefold since the war began. The British builders 

 claim that the ash which grows in England is much superior to all other 

 woods in the construction of frames. Trees under sixty years old are 

 not made into aeroplane stock, and the best ash comes from trees above 

 one hundred years old. Tall trunks and straight grain are demanded. 

 The call for wood of that class has been so great that the native ash of 

 England is rapidly disappearing. So critical are British aeroplane experts 

 that Irish ash cannot pass inspection, though in climatic and botanical 

 grounds there ought to be little diiference between the ash wood of the 

 two countries. The same experts who reject Irish ash, likewise turn 

 down American spruce. None the less, our spruce is being bought by the 

 allies for aerpolane stock by millions of feet a month. Unless it were a 

 pretty good wood it would not go at that rate, and keep on going. 



How to Make Ebony 



True ebony is the wood of the ebony tree, a kind of persimmon. There 

 are several species. On the continent of Europe they make ebony out 

 of apple wood, thereby increasing its value four or five fold. Of course, 

 it Is not ebony, but it passes for the genuine article, unless it is inspected 

 by experts. The old orchards of the United States contain enough apple 

 wood to supply a large market for false ebony. 



Do Wooden Fences Injure Health? 



In the city of Washington a campaign is going on against the wooden 

 fence, and it is accused of facilitating the breeding and spread of disease. 

 The particular object of the attack is the vertical plank wall, air tight 

 and about eight feet high. It encloses many back yards, jammed together 

 so tight that the ground ne^'er drys and the foundations of the fences 

 are always damp and moldy. Such fences are probably unsanitary and 

 certainly unsightly: but there are wooden fences of other kinds against 

 which no just accusation can be made. An iron, stone, brick or con- 

 crete fence would be just as unsanitary under similar circumstances. It 

 is not the fence, but the trash which accumulates round it, that is 

 unsanitary. A neglected fence is never a thing of beauty nor a promoter 

 ■of health. 



The Wood Came Back 

 For some years sycamore from the British Isles found a ready market 

 in Germany and considerable quantities went there. An. item of return 

 trade was harewood, which sold in England at a high price, and there 

 was good demand for it. Lately it has been discovered that the costly 

 and prized harewood for which Englishmen have paid such generous 

 (Prices was nothing more than the English sycamore treated by a dyeing 

 .process which changed its color. The operation Is so simple that the 



English will in the future dye their own sycamore instead of sending it 

 to Germany to be colored. 



Growing Bamboo for Pulp 



In Malay there is a species of bamboo which grows 120 feet high in 

 forty days. It is one of the most rapid growers among vegetables. The 

 discovery has been made that it makes good pulp for paper, and its pos- 

 sibilities as a source of paper are being discussed. Several crops can be 

 grown in one season, and each crop is a veritable forest ready for the 

 paper mill. 



Why Brown Oak Is Brown 



The brown oak, which is famous in England and sells for exorbitant 

 prices in American furniture factories, is justly famous for its beauty. No 

 wood ranks higher and few cost more. Its rich but subdued color is 

 justly praised by those who appreciate rare colors. But why is it brown? 

 An English scientist has discovered that the tone is due to fungus which 

 has penetrated the tree from bark to heart and filled every fiber. The 

 fungus does not seem to promote decay or in any way lessen the strength 

 or affect the durabilit.v of the wood. 



Nova Scotia Lumber Shipments 



Nova Scotia appears to be meeting with unusual success in exporting 

 lumber, both spruce and hardwoods, during the war. Other American coun- 

 tries and provinces have seen their lumber exports decline in spite of 

 efforts to maintain them ; but Nova Scotia has found means to hold its 

 exports up to their former level or even increase them. This has been ac- 

 complished by securing vessels to carry lumber across the seas. Some of 

 the vessels are smaller than those usually found in the lumber trade, but 

 high freight has made the carrying business profitable and has kept lumber 

 moving. 



Brazilian Lumber Seeks American Market 



A lumber dealer iu Para, Brazil, desires to get in touct with American 

 importers of lumber, especially of cedar and "pau rosa," according to a 

 late trade report. The latter is used for making piano cases, and also 

 perfumery from the extract obtained by crushing it. The address of 

 the dealer can he obtained at the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Com- 

 merce or its district or co-operative oflices b.v referring to file No. 79S96. 



w »-,.|t*^ 



FREAK FACES IN WAI.NDT VENEER 



This was recently received in a shipment of walnut by the Logansport 



Furidture Co., Logansport, Ind. 



