CHAPTER XII 

 FOREST UTILIZATION WOOD USES AND ECONOMICS 



1. PROPERTIES AND THEIR RELATION TO USES OF WOOD 



Wood varies widely in its structure. The variations found in its 

 structure form the basis for the identification of wood and largely 

 decide the general character of its utilization. 



The principal features of wood structure involve the physical, me- 

 chanical, and chemical properties. These, in turn, generally determine 

 the uses for each species. Some woods such as oak, longleaf pine, and 

 Douglas fir are strong, stiff, and durable and therefore make excellent 

 construction timbers; the cedars, cypress, redwood, and chestnut, being 

 exceedingly durable, make excellent poles and posts; spruce has long, 

 strong fibers and is relatively free from resinous and gummy materials 

 and is accordingly adaptable for the production of paper; mahogany 

 has a most attractive and beautiful grain, seasons well, does not warp 

 or twist out of shape, and is therefore esteemed for high-grade furni- 

 ture, finish, and cabinet work. Elm, being tough, makes a good 

 vehicle and hoop wood; white oak is impervious to liquids and does 

 not exude a disagreeable odor or flavor to the contents, so it is a very 

 satisfactory wood for barrels and other forms of tight cooperage. 



Each wood has definite qualities, properties, and characteristics 

 color, weight, grain, strength, durability, stiffness which distinguish 

 and identify it from others. The character of the utilization of each 

 species depends upon these properties, as well as upon its cost and 

 availability. 



Some of our species have risen to such high price levels or have 

 become so scarce that substitutes have been introduced to take their 

 places. Ingenious but generally unsatisfactory methods have been de- 

 vised to imitate the color, and grain of the more valuable woods such 

 as black walnut, mahogany, rosewood and Circassian walnut. How- 

 ever, these imitations are not generally perfect reproductions and are 

 easily recognized by the trained eye. Methods of graining cheap woods 

 to imitate quartered white oak or other woods have been devised but 

 are usually considered unsatisfactory. In the same way, metals painted 



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