68 ECONOMIC WOODS OF THE UNITED STATES 



cedar boxes. The scent of cedar (Juniperus virginiana, Chamce- 

 cyparis lawsoniana, and C. nootkatensis) is apparently disagreeable 

 to moths and other insects, making the wood desirable for cabinets, 

 wardrobes, chests, and drawers where furs and woolen clothes 

 are kept. Cedar shavings are also employed for the same purpose. 

 Loss of scent from the exposed surface of the wood soon seriously 

 impairs the efficiency of the wood for this purpose. For some 

 purposes, especially as receptacles for wines, liquors, drinking- 

 water, and oils, meats, fish, butter, and other foodstuffs, highly- 

 scented wood is undesirable since it is apt to taint the 

 contents. 



While scent is often a very valuable aid to the identification 

 of wood, its utility is lessened by the difficulty and often impos- 

 sibility of describing an odor so that one unfamiliar with it would 

 be able to recognize it. Such descriptions are necessarily limited 

 to comparisons with well-known scents which are usually inade- 

 quate. The scent of the wood of Pinus is resinous or like tur- 

 pentine; that of Juniperus and Chamcecyparis thyoides aromatic, 

 like cedar oil; that of Chamcecyparis nootkatensis, C. lawsoniana, 

 and Libocedrus decurrens spicy-resinous; that of dark-colored, waxy 

 specimens of Taxodium, like rancid butter; that of Catalpa some- 

 what like kerosene; that of Viburnum lentago and V. prunifolium 

 very disagreeable and pungent. 



The following genera and species usually can be recognized 

 by their odor alone : Juniperus, Chamcecyparis thyoides, C. lawson- 

 iana, Libocedrus, Thuya, Tsuga canadensis, Sassafras, Viburnum, 

 and Catalpa. With a keen sense of smell others may be recog- 

 nized; for example, Pinus, Taxodium, Quercus, Castanea, Ulmus, 

 and Betula. Prominent among exotic species characterized by 

 pronounced scents are the camphor trees (Cinnamomum camphora, 

 Dryobalanus camphora, Camphora glanduliferum) , Indian sandal- 

 wood (Santalum album), and violet-wood (Acacia homophylla). 



References 



GAYER, K: Schlich's Manual of Forestry, Vol. V (1908), pp. 47-48. 

 ROTH, F.: Timber, Bui. 10, U. S. Div. For., p. 24. 

 KRAIS, PAUL: Gewerbliche Materialkunde, Vol. I, Die Holzer, p. 652. 

 EXNER, W. F.: Lorey's Handbuch der Forstwissenschaft, Vol. II, pp. 116-117. 

 NORDLINGER, H. : Die Technischen Eigenschaften der Holzer, pp. 51-53. 



