WOOD-USING INDUSTRIES OF CALIFORNIA. 15 



ll attains its commercial development in Mendocino and Humboldt 

 counties; but never forms a pure stand, occurring in association with 

 redwood, Douglas fir, madrona, Garry or Oregon oak, California black 



ik. and western chinquapin. 



The tree generally grows from 50 to 75 feet high, and from 1 to 2 feet 



diameter. Trees from 80 to 85 feet, or somewhat taller, and from 3 



4 feet in diameter, sometimes occur. It grows as a shrub on the 

 ligh mountains. The wood is dense and fine grained, very hard, and 

 )inewhat brittle, the color light brown, faintly tinged with red. 



From 1901 to 1907, 185,000 cords of tanbark, at 2,400 pounds to the 

 )rd, were produced in California. 



Some few attempts have been made to utilize the wood. Flooring was 

 lanufactured for a time, and a few thousand feet were converted into 

 [urniture, cabinet work, and showcases. The principal difficulty 

 ^countered with tanbark oak is the fact that it checks excessively and 

 is liable to decay before it can be manufactured into lumber. This is 

 lue largely to the custom of felling the trees in the spring and early 

 summer, at which time the bark can be removed without difficulty. It 



well known that the proper time to cut hardwoods for successful! 

 landling is in the fall and winter. 



It has proved too porous for tight cooperage stock, resembling red oak 

 in this respect; but from experiments that have been made upon it, 

 it appears to be a good wood for wagon rims and auto-top bows. Out- 

 side the few uses to which it has been put, some of it is sold for fuel; 

 mt the greater portion is allowed to rot in the woods after the bark 

 las been peeled. 



Forest Service Bulletin No. 75 gives a full and complete account of 

 the properties and uses of tanbark oak. 



THE CALIFORNIA OAKS. 



There is at present scarcely any use except as fuel for the various 

 species of California oaks. The old timber is generally too brittle and 



/eak for purposes where strength is required ; and the large percentage 

 )f rotten trunks in an old stand makes the wood practically useless for 

 lumber purposes. It seems probable, however, that the young growth 



mder 12 inches in diameter possesses sufficient strength and toughness 

 render it valuable for tool handles and vehicle and implement stock. 

 In fact, the young growth of some of the species is used for these pur- 



>oses, but only locally. However, one of these oaks, the Garry or Ore- 

 gon oak, is utilized extensively in Oregon, where it enters into the boat- 

 building, cooperage, fixture, furniture, handle, planing-mill, saddle, and 



vehicle industries, about two million feet being used. Lumber of this 

 species is shipped into California, although a great deal grows in the 



lorthern portion of this State. 



