55 



BLACK LOCUST. 



(Robinia pseudacacia=R. Pseudo-Acacia). 



All the black locust used by the Pennsylvania manufacturers was grown 

 in the State, and in quantity was equal to more than one-tenth of the total 

 lumber cut of locust in the United States. This was because the wood is 

 demanded for uses which usually require raw material in the forms of billets 

 and bolts, and it is an exception that it leaves the sawmills in the form of 

 planks or boards. Only three industries use this wood in Pennsylvania and 

 two of them cut it into billet form. They are the makers of insulator pins, 

 brackets, and mine sprags. The third industry, vehicle part manufacture, 

 purchases locust in bolt form and uses it for wagon hubs. This species has 

 the distinction of being the most durable native hardwood both in the open 

 when exposed and in contact with the ground, thus accounting for its exten- 

 sive demand for fence posts. It has a coarse, straight grain, is hard, porous, 

 heavy, and tough, splits easily, holds its shape well, and easily turned. 



Table 39. Consumption of Black Locust, year ending June, 1912. 



CUCUMBER. 

 (Magnolia acuminata). 



This tree frequents the mountain slopes and grows to large and symmetrical 

 dimensions. It is a member of the magnolia family, which includes the yellow 

 poplar. It derives its name from the similarity in form and appearance of 

 its fruit cone to the cucumber. The appearance and technical quality of the 

 wood so resemble yellow poplar and the uses of the tw r o are so nearly identical 

 that as a rule they are marketed together without distinction. Owing to this 

 fact it is probable that the manufacturers use more cucumber than the table 

 shows, and it also accounts for Pennsylvania's not being included with West 

 Virginia and Virginia in the production of this kind of lumber. The prin- 

 cipal industries using this wood are planing mill products and boxes. 



