40 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



TYPE OF RED GUM OF MEMPHIS DISTRICT 



ful does it become in that season of the year that it is often planted 

 for ornamental purposes. 



While the wood does not have any great strength, owing probably 

 to the fact that the fibers are not long, it is of a close texture, of 

 extremely straight grain and hard and heavy. The color is light 

 brown with an indication of red; the sapwood, which is almost 

 white, covering a period of sixty to seventy years' growth on the 

 outside of the log. The uses to which the wood of the red gum are 

 put are so manifold as to be scarcely recordable. Wherever one goes 

 in the modern dwelling or hotel he is very apt to run across this- 

 popular southern product usually masquerading in the disguise of 

 some much more expensive and aristocratic timber, such as mahogany 

 or Circassian walnut. While the practice of substituting gum for 

 these woods has become extensive, it is a fact, however, that in its 

 natural state the wood finishes up \vith a most attractive figure and 

 color, which in itself should warrant a position among the rare cabinet 

 woods, without the necessity for imitation. Besides its use in all 

 lines of cabinetmaking and interior finish the wood is extensively 

 employed on the out.side and is quite popular in pavement work. Its 

 straight grain adapts it readily to the manufacture of wooden dishes, 

 while large quantities are consumed in the manufacture of boxes. 



Cottonwood 



The most commonly manufactured Cottonwood is known botaui- 

 cally as I'opulus lictcrophi/lla, ami while it has a range covering most 

 of the states of the east and southeast, it attains most favorable 

 growth in the swampy country along the lower Mississippi and in 

 southern Missouri, eastern Arkansas and western Mississippi. There 

 are other varieties of Cottonwood which are manufactured to a more 

 limited extent in these regions, but this one is everywhere recognized 

 as the Cottonwood, aud under the common name lumbermen always 

 have in mind this species of the genus. 



The usual growth for any tree which has its favorite habitat in 

 rich, swampy lands is tall and clean with a straight unbroken trunk, 

 and the Cottonwood is no exception to this rule. It grows from 

 eighty to a hundred feet in heiglit when mature and has a trunk 

 often three feet through. The short, slender branches and narrow 

 head are distinctive features, readily recognized from among the 

 surrounding growth. The large leaves when mature have a thick, 

 firm texture and are dark green in color. The bark is easily distin- 

 guished, being on young trunks divided into broad ridges, which in 

 themselves present a flake-like appearance. When mature there is a. 

 slight coloring of red with the light brown. 



The Cottonwood has always been known as a rapid grower and on 

 this account has become most popular with the farming element for 

 plantations along streams in the more or less barren farm regions of 

 Kansas, where it is planted entirely and often attains in thirty oi- 

 forty years sufificient growth to supply the farm with the necessary 

 building material and cordwood. The same characteristic is evident 

 when it grows under natural conditions in the South. 



The cut of Cottonwood has attained large proportions and probably 

 three-quarters of the whole supply comes from the states of Arkansas,. 

 Missouri aud Louisiana. A good clean quality of lumber is produced 

 which is light in weight but fine of grain and close in texture. The- 

 surface often has a peculiar satiny luster and usually is white in 

 color. Cottonwood possesses no great durability but is widely manu- 

 factured, owing to the ease with which it is worked. In the process of 

 drying unusual cai-e is required to produce satisfactory results, as- 

 shrinkage is extremely common, though it is not liable to split. 

 Cottonwood boxboards are increasing in importance and always com- 

 mand a ready price on the general market. In connection with pop- 

 lar they are sold to the wagon manufacturers of the country in great, 

 quantities. The manufacture of boxes also consumes a large amount 

 of the lower grades, while for interior finish and also for other con- 

 struction work some sections consume considerable quantities. 



The Ashes 

 There are four varieties of ash which in this region attain com- 

 mcrciiil importance, and of these two are really so much more com- 



