34 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



that there are less obstructions in the pores in the spring -nood of 

 the red oak than in that of the white oak, while in the summer wood 

 the pores are larger, although less numerous, and hence admit of 

 freer excess of air and moisture. Two typical specimens of the 

 wood can be fairly readily distinguished by the naked eye, but when 

 one is considering species that are not typical, it becomes necessary 

 to use a magniifying glass to work out the identification along the 

 lines suggested. In attempting to do this, it is necessary to make 

 as clean a cut as possible, using a sharp knife in order not to com- 

 press the fibers, thus obscuring their appearance. If the specimen 

 to be identified is in the form of a board, the identification must be 

 done at the end, shaving down the rough surface until it presents 

 a smooth appearance, revealing two or three segments of the rings. 

 Of course due allowance must be made for the region in which the 

 tree grows, as the pores will be much larger in southern red oak, for 

 instance, than in red oak from Wisconsin or even from the states 

 midway between. The same is true of white oak. Mountain oak 

 is of course much denser than the oak grown in the lowlands in 

 which there is an excess of moisture. To become sure of one's 

 judgment as to the proper classification of the oaks, it requires con- 

 siderable experience, and, as suggested, proper judgment of the 

 variations resulting from different environments, but there is no 

 reason why anybody fairly familiar with trees cannot, with an or- 

 dinary magnifying glass, arrive at the correct conclusion in prac- 

 tically every case regarding the proper commercial classification of 

 oak lumber. It is necessary to bear in mind merely the two essential 

 differences, namely, the smaller size and the greater number and 

 congestion of the small pores in the summer wood of the white oak 

 as compared with a more scattered arrangement, and considerably 

 larger size, and fewer number of small pores in the summer wood of 

 the red oak; and, secondly, to ascertain whether or not the large 

 spring pores are fairly free as in the red oak, or are obstructed as 

 in the white oak. 



The most typical species of the white oak group is the true white 

 oak (Qiicrcus alba), of which the best growth is in the bottoms 

 along the Ohio river, and on the western slopes of the southern 

 Alleghenies. The other important lumber species are post oak 

 (QuercHs minor), growing the best in the Mississippi basin; burr 

 oak {Quercus macrocarpa), best in southern Indiana and Illinois; 

 over-cup oak (Quercus lyrala), best growth in the Bed river valley, 

 Louisiana; swamp white oak {Qnercus platanoidc.s) , best in western 

 New York and northern Ohio; cow oak (Quercus michauxii), best in 

 lower Mississippi valley; chestnut oak (Quercus prinus), typical 

 appalachian growth; yellow oak (Quercus acumiiuila), best in south- 

 ern Indiana. 



The true red oak (Quercus ruhra) typifies the red or black oak 

 group. The other lumber producing species are red oak (Quercus 

 tcxana), in Mississippi bottoms; scarlet oak (Quercus coccinea), an 

 eastern species; turkey oak (Quercus catesiwi), on the coast region 

 of Georgia and South Carolina; finger oak (Quercus digitaia), dry 

 liills of south Atlantic and Gulf states. 



The third cut shown represents a typical cross section of red gum. 

 It will be seen that the physical characteristics of tliis wood are 

 radically different from those of the oaks. To begin with the essen- 

 tial difference is the grouping of the pores. In other words, wnile 

 the oaks come under what are known as ring-porous woods, the gum 

 is decidedly a diffuse-porous wood. This means that while, in the 

 group represented by the oaks, there is a decided difference in the 

 size of the cells in the spring and summer wood, thus forming dis- 

 tinct rings of each kind of wood, in the other group the pores in 

 both spring and summer wood are about the same size, and are evenly 

 distributed and reveal no distinct line. It is undoubtedly for this 

 reason that red gum contains the excellent physical qualities which 

 it does. The eirrangement of this type eliminates alternate hard and 

 soft rings, and makes the entire bulk of the wood of an even soft 

 texture, easily worked. In scientific classification, red g\im is found 

 first under diffuse-porous woods, and the next classification shows 

 that the pores are minute or indistinct, and neither conspicuously 

 larger or more numerous in the spring wood and are well distributed. 

 The next step in the key shows that there are no board pith rays 



present, meaning that the wood will not show the splash, as seen in 

 quarter-sawed oak. The pith rays are small but quite distinct. The 

 wood is soft and the pores crowded, occupying nearly all the space 

 between the pith rays. In the engraving of the gum, the pith rays 

 are represented by the dark lines running vertically between the 

 rows of pores. The engraving also distinctly reveals the crowding 

 of the pores, as mentioned. The color of the sap-wood is grayish 

 and of the heart-wood light to a dark reddish brown. No one familiar 

 with gum will need any explanation of the terms sap-wood, and heart- 

 wood, which represent sap gum and red gum commercially. 



This wood has met with such a distinctly favorable reception 

 wherever it has been introduced that it is commanding the attention 

 of every manufacturer of southern hardwoods. The remarkable phase 

 of the development of this tree species commercially is that its use 

 has been confined in this country to but a very few years. Long 

 before it was taken seriously in the United States, it was consumed 

 in considerable quantities abroad, going under the name of satin 

 walnut, a name which it still holds in that trade. The chief reason 

 for the disdain with which it was regarded but a few years ago, is 

 probably the fact that the proper methods of drying it, in order to 

 secure good results, were not understood by manufacturers. As a 

 consequence wc hear the ridiculous stories aimed at the unusual 

 warping and twisting qualities of red gum lumber. Instances are 

 heard of the gum having jumped over a nine-foot fence in the course 

 of the night after having been piled fresh from the saw. Various 

 other tales emanating from a more or less well developed imagination 

 have been heard making light of "the commercial possibilities of gum, 

 but these stories are a thing of the past and by proper experimenta- 

 tion, the drying of gum himber has become altogether successful. 

 A gum manufacturer can now guarantee his trade that he will give 

 to it a product just as straight and free from warp and twist as the 

 manufacturer of any of the other more widely known woods. Further- 

 more, he can give them a wood with a really beautiful figure, one 

 in which are shown markings of variable and in some instances intri- 

 cate and beautiful patterns. The wood, finished in its native state, 

 in some cases defies the expert to distinguish it from high-priced 

 Circassian walnut. It readily lendfe itself to stains to represent 

 mahogany, and in a good many cases it is stained to a rich brown, 

 in which case its similarity to Circassian walnut is astonishing. 

 .\ vast amount of gum stumpage is still growing in this country. 

 It is marketed as red gum and sap gum, representing respectively, 

 as before stated, the heart and the sap of the tree. Of these the 

 red gum is probably considered the more desirable of the two, but it 

 is a fact that sap gum is a wood admirably fitted for a great many 

 uses in which more expensive woods are now employed. It is well 

 ada])ted as a basis for white enamel finish in colonial houses, because 

 of its close grain and smoothness under paint. For this use it is 

 regarded by some better than all other woods. When used in imita- 

 tion of such effects as mission, it will be found that sap gum lends 

 itself to stain, and holds its color without fading. It seems to possess 

 unusual lasting qualities when exposed to the air. Because of its 

 good bending properties, it is being introduced into the manufacture 

 of automobiles and carriage bodies. 



It is absolutely necessary, in order to secure satisfactory results, 

 that the drying of sap gum be thoroughly carried out by a scientific 

 drying process, and for this reason it is safe to buy it only from 

 such concerns as have specialized in this particular. It must be 

 properly air-dried and kiln-dried before being offered for sale. 



The same is true of red gum. ' The utilization of this part of the 

 tree, however, is confined to different lines than sap gum. It is used 

 more for interior finish, in both finished and natural state, and 

 stained to imitate other woods, such as mahogany or Circassian 

 walnut. It has come into extensive use in the manufacture of high- 

 grade furniture, any anybody who has seen a bed-room suite made 

 of red gum finished to show its own beautiful figure, will admit the 

 unusual merit of the wood for the purpose. 



It has a distinct adaptability for veneers and lumber for various 

 uses, requiring lasting qualities, ability to stay where put, strength 

 combined with softness of texture, beauty of figure, ability to cut 

 with little waste, and finally and most important, cheapness. 



