KINDS OF WOOD 



17 



This species is reported to be used by five industries only, and car con- 

 struction used 93 per cent of the total. 



Douglas fir is one of the world's most valuable structural woods, on account 

 both of its intrinsic qualities and its large dimensions. It is rapidly growing in 

 popularity and its use should be still further encouraged. It was, at first, valued 

 only for framework and structural purposes, but now it is frequently used for 

 more ornamental purposes, such as all kinds of interior finishing, flooring, 

 panelling, sash and tloors, etc. It is also used as sliced veneer, in which form it 

 gives a fine effect on account of its striking grain. 



The wood of Douglas fir is very strong, elastic, tough, hard, straight-grained, 

 comparatively light, and fairly durable. Its chief fault lies in the difficulty there 

 is in working it, on account of its comparative hardness when seasoned and its 

 liability to split. 



The high price asked for Douglas fir on the Quebec market is very likely the 

 chief reason why it is not used by more industries. Bulletin 58, " Forest pro- 

 ducts of Canada, 1915," places the price of Douglas fir at the saw-mills of British 

 Columbia at $11.76. The long haul by rail across the continent is the chief 

 factor in raising the price of Douglas fir. 



TABLE VII JACK PINE 



Jack pine (Pinus Banksiana), coming seventh in the list, is given a high 

 rank amongst the wood material used by the wood-using industries of Quebec on 

 account of the consumption of this material by the wood-pulp industry. Ninety- 

 nine per cent of the jack pine reported was used by the pulp manufacturers. 

 Only two industries have reported its use. [Jack pine is largely used for railway 

 ties, but ties are not included in this study.] 



It is probable, however, that a small quantity of jack pine is mixed with red 

 pine and used as such by a few other industries. 



Compared with white and red pine, jack pine is a much inferior wood", being 

 weaker, more brittle, and more perishable. The tree is not so tall and the wood 

 is seldom found clear of knots. The wood of jack pine is very resinous. 



Fifty-seven per cent of the jack pine used by the wood-pulp industry is 

 manufactured by the sulphate process. Wood-pulp factories pay SI 1.77 per 

 thousand feet board measure for jack pine; while sash, door and building material 

 factories pay $17.32. The first mentioned factories buy round logs, while the 

 latter buy in the form of sawn lumber. 

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