14 WOOD-USING INDUSTRIES OF CALIFORNIA. 



It is impossible, at present, to take the run of a eucalyptus grove and 

 turn it into merchantable lumber without making prohibitive the cost 

 of the material obtained. This is chiefly due to the excessive checking 

 and warping, and the great and uneven shrinkage when drying. Under 

 these conditions it can compete with the Australian blue gum neither in 

 price nor quality, should any great demand for eucalyptus lumber arise. 

 Blue gum is not durable in contact with the soil, and is a very poor 

 substitute for Douglas fir piling in waters where the marine wood-borers 

 are active. A full discussion of the California eucalyptus is given in 

 Forest Service Circular No. 179. 



SYCAMORE. 



This species ranges from the lower Sacramento River, through the 

 interior valleys and coast ranges, to Lower California. The height that 

 the tree attains commonly varies between 40 and 60 feet, and the 

 diameter between 18 and 30 inches. The trunks are often short, giving 

 off several trunk-like branches. The w r ood is pale brown, tinged with 

 red, cross grained and very difficult to split, but it is attractive and 

 suitable for interior finish and cabinet w^ork. 



PEPPERWOOD OR LAUREL. 



This species occurs in the coast regions of the State ; and also in the 

 Sierra from the head of the Sacramento Valley to the southern border ; 

 but its commercial range is limited to the northern coast ranges. The 

 largest single merchantable stand contains about five million feet, board 

 measure. 



The height that the tree attains commonly varies between 60 and 80 

 feet, and the diameter between 2J and 3J feet. In the dense forest it 

 has a clean, straight trunk from 30 to 40 feet long. The wood is moder- 

 ately heavy when dry, hard, very firm, and fine grained. It is a rich 

 yellowish brown, often mottled, and the sapwood is very thick. It is a 

 valuable cabinet and finishing wood, as it has a beautiful grain when 

 polished. 



MOUNTAIN MAHOGANY. 



This species is found in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and south to 

 the San Jacinto Mountains. The tree is usually shrubby, and under 10 

 feet in height, though occasionally 15 to 25 feet high, and 4 to 8 inches 

 in diameter. The wood is very dense, fine grained, and exceedingly 

 heavy. It checks and warps badly in drying, after which it is very 

 hard. Freshly cut wood has a distinct mahogany red color, which 

 browns upon exposure. 



TANBARK OAK. 



The tanbark oak ranges from the northern border of the State 

 through the coast ranges to Santa Barbara, and from the Humboldt 

 region eastward, by the way of the Shasta Mountains, to the Sierra 

 Nevada, following the latter range as far south as El Dorado County. 



