36 



WOOD-USING INDUSTRIES 



CUCUMBER TREE 



The cucumber {Magnolia acuminata) is quite common in Ohio, 

 growing- along the banks of rivers and streams. In the extreme 

 southern and southwestern part of the State in timber situations 

 elkwood {Magnolia .tri^etala), its relative, is found in occasional 

 stands. Cucumber usually passes on the market as yellow poplar 

 or whitewood, and as such enters into manufacture for uses similar 

 to yellow poplar. It is considered the best wood for pump logs and 

 water pipes, and this special use gives it the special recognition it 

 receives in consuming markets. The wood is light, soft, durable, 

 not strong, close-grained, compact, satiny. Color is yellow-brown, 

 sapwood lighter, often nearly white. 



TABLE XVI. Cucumber 



BIRCHES 



Three species of birch grow in Ohio but none very extensively. 

 Sweet or cherry birch (Betu/a lento) grows sparingly throughout the 

 State, while yellow birch {Betula lutea) is found only in the 

 extreme northeastern part. Black birch {Bettda nigra) of little com- 

 mercial importance grows scatteringly on the lowlands in the 

 southern part of the State. Considering the importance of birch as 

 a cabinet wood the amount the Ohio manufacturers use is surpris- 

 ingly small. The largest part is probably sweet birch and goes into 

 commodities where it frequently is stained in imitation of mahogany. 

 So well does it serve for this purpose that the imitation finish is 

 difficult to discern from the real mahogany. Eighteen industries 

 report birch in various amounts, but "sash, doors, blinds and general 

 mill work," "planing mill products," and "store and office fixtures" 

 were the ones which called for the largest quantities and together 

 used 60 percent of all that was reported. 



