22 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



February 25, 1917 



cedar has finer texture, and redwood coarser texture than white cedar. 

 Of course, other modifications as moderately coarse and moderately fine 

 texture could also be used. 



Whenever the color effect, or pattern, produced on the surface of (iii-\ 

 ished lumber is referred to, the word "figure" can be used, as beauti- 

 ful figure, banded figure, silvery figure, or no figure. 



This leaves "grain" to be used exclusively with respect to the 

 direction of the wood elements and the plane in which the lumber is 

 cut. No other term but "grain" has so far been used in connection 

 with the direction in which the fibers run, and straight grain, cross 

 grain, diagonal grain, spiral grain, curly grain, rough grain, end 

 grain, etc., have definite meanings to all who are familiar with wood. 

 In the grading of pine and fir flooring and in shingles the terms ' ' edge 

 grain" and "flat grain" have become so well established and their 

 meaning is so definite that there is no reason why this use of the word 



"grain" should not be continued, although "quarter sawn" or 

 "rift sawn," and "slab sawn" would artswer the same purpose. It 

 might be said, however, that the term "vertical grain" is not so de- 

 sirable as "edge grain," for in flooring and shingles the grain (mean- 

 ing here the fibers) does not run vertically but lengthw'ise with the 

 length of the piece. It is, therefore, further suggested that the use of 

 the term "grain" be restricted to the direction of the wood fibers in 

 the tree or in a particular piece of lumber, as straight, cross, wavy 

 grain, etc. ; and to the plane in which lumber is cut, as edge, flat, or end 

 grain. The way in which lumber finishes, whether rough or smooth, can 

 consistently be designated as rotgh, or smooth grain because it is due , 

 largely to the direction of the fibers. 



The above suggestions are made to establish a more definite mean- 

 ing in the phraseology with respect to lumber. Any further sugges- 

 tions, discussions, or any differences of opinion are invited. 



CTO!gliTOt!W;WiTOTOg<StiJMMroatliK(^^ 



The Powder Post Beetle Pest 



The government has published a bulletin whicli will answer some 

 serious questions which dealers and workers in and users of hard- 

 woods occasionally ask. What can be done to lessen or prevent the 

 injury done to wood by the minute insects known as powder-post 

 beetles? The bulletin is the work of A. D. Hopkins and T. E. Sny- 

 der of the Department of Agriculture. 



Damage amounting to liundrcds of thousands of dollars, which 

 grubs of small beetles do annually to seasoned wood used in various 

 ways in tlie home, about the farm, and stored in warehouses, may be 

 nmterially lessened or eliminated by the exercise of care in han- 

 dling an<l by the treatment of the wood with kerosene and other 

 easily obtainable substances. 



The damage is done by the larvae, or grubs, of powder-post 

 beetles which bore through the wood in such a manner as to con- 

 vert it into fine powder, thus greatly lessening its strength. Great- 

 est damage is done to second-growth white wood or sapwood of the 

 finest quality of hardwoods, especially hickory, ash and oak, whicli 

 has been stored or piled in one place for two or three years. Other 

 woods, however, either while stored or after being made into various 

 articles, are often attacked, especially when they are associated with 

 the woods more susceptil)le to attack. Sapwood seasoned for less 

 than eight to ten months is not attacked by the insects, and he&rt- 

 wood is never attacked. 



Protective Me.^siires 



The beetles whose grubs cause the damage are known to science 

 as the lyctus beetles. Four species are responsible for most of the 

 losses. The beetles are small, slender, somewliat flattened, and arc 

 of a brownish to nearly black color, t'pon emerging from the wood 

 where they breed and pass the winter as larvae they fly or crawl 

 about in search of suitable wood material in which to deposit their 

 eggs. The eggs are deposited in the natural pores of the wood, and 

 the minute larvae which hatch from them burrow in and through 

 the wood in all directions, feeding and growing as they proceed. 

 The full-grown larvae are yellowish white grubs ranging in length 

 from one-eighth to one-fifth of an incli. 



The presence of the beetles in dwelling.s usually may be detected 

 by the occurrence of fine floury wood powder at the base of the 

 wood which has been attacked. Among the articles which the 

 beetles are known to have infested are interior finish or trim, and 

 ornamental woodwork such as panels, mantels, doors, doorposts, 

 staircases, wainscoting, flooring, etc.; furniture, filing cases, cabinet 

 work, walking sticks, umbrella handles, and the handles of numerous 

 tools and implements. In the case of furniture and cabinet work, 

 the sapwood portions of backs and interior surfaces are most liable 

 to attack. 



As a measure of ijrevention the wood likely to be attacked may lie 

 treated with boiled linseed oil, or coats of paraffin or varnish may 

 be applied. Kerosene or mixtures of kerosene and creosote may be 

 applied to infested woods to kill the grubs. 



Caring For Stored Woods 



In storehouses more extensive measures of treatment may be em- 

 ployed both for preventing the attacks and killing the grubs in 

 the wood. Manufacturers of and dealers in stocks of susceptible 

 woods will find it especially advantageous to adopt the following 

 system of inspection, classification, and proper disposition: 



Inspect material in yards and storehouses annually, prffi-rably in Xuvcni 

 ber anil February, ami sort out ami burn material showing evidence of 

 powder post. Burn all rofuso and useless sapwood material. 



Classify seasoned hardwood sttick into (a) hickory, ash, ouk. »■(<■.; (h) 

 henrtwood, piu-p sapwood and part sapwood ; and (c) according to the 

 number of years seasoned. 



Utilize or sell oldest stock first. 



Inspect all new stock to prevent introduction of powdiT pointed material. 



Use only heartwood piling sticks in lumber piles. 



To prevent attack treat the more valuable material, lietwei^n Octolier ami 

 March, with boiled linseed oil. Varnish or paraffin the sapwood portions 

 of backs and interior surfaces of cabinet work, inside finish, and furniture. 



While there are a number of. effective chemical treatments to 

 prevent attack, and to kill the insects in the wood, the great objec- 

 tion to all of them is the great and recurring expense of treating 

 material that never would be attacked if, by the projier methoils of 

 management, the premises were kept free from the pest. 



While we commonly think of oak as a furniture and cabinet 

 wood, it is really no less cons[)icuous in some other lines and leads 

 the list of hardwood consumption in ]>laning mill work. Also the 

 records show more oak used in planing mill work than for furni- 

 ture proper, though if we count chairs in with furniture tlie total 

 in this line will exeecd that u,sed in the planing mills. 

 o 



Some of these days not a great many years hence we will ]irob- 

 ably awake to the fact that we have cut and marketed quite a lot 

 of good hickory witliout getting anywhere near enough monev 

 for it. 



The best sawmill superintendent is not necessarily the man who 

 drives the men under him hardest. Thoughtful management and 

 the arrangement of devices and facilities so as to get more efficient 

 results is worth more than hard man driving. 

 o 



We are told by tliose who don't like them tliat comparisons are 

 odious. But hon^ else are we to get any measure of valued 



When thrift turns into stinginess it also Viecomes one of the w^orst 

 forms of waste. 



Wlieuever help is scarce among the mills and factories we are 

 reminded of the needs of some comprehensive service bureau that 

 can fulfill promptly the mission of bringing together the owner 

 iu need of skilled help and the skilled help in need of a job. 



