CATALOGUE OF THE TIMBERS OF THE WORLD 19 



product of Acanthopanax ricinifolium, S. and Z., and known in Japan as 

 " Sen," a timber which, although resembling ash in the grain, possesses 

 none other of its qualities. This timber, being light in weight, having 

 little or no strength and being specially short-grained, gave Japanese ash 

 a very bad name at the outset. As soon as the discovery was made, steps 

 were taken to ensure that shipments of Japanese ash consisted exclusively 

 of the product of Fraxinus mandschurica, and, as has been mentioned, 

 large quantities have since been imported. 



The wood is generally lighter in weight and browner in colour than 

 British ash. The colour is detrimental to its use for some purposes. As 

 the wood is relatively strong, its weight, which averages about 10 per cent 

 less than British, and 6 to 8 per cent less than American, is a great 

 advantage for many purposes. The timber is really stronger than its 

 weight and appearance would suggest. This is partly due to the closeness 

 of the concentric layers, which give nearly three times the number of rings 

 to the inch of circumference. The conditions under which it is shipped 

 make it impossible to select the stronger growth from the milder. The 

 variations in the strength of the British wood are well known, and the 

 workman requiring the strongest and toughest ash would not seek for it 

 among large, park-grown trees, knowing well where to find the growth 

 required. In Japan, however, the produce of all the growths becomes 

 mixed before shipment, and as it is impossible to determine where or how 

 the timber has been grown, selection for toughness becomes difficult. 

 There is undoubtedly a large percentage of exceedingly tough, strong 

 wood. 



Experiments for the purpose of testing the transverse strength were 

 made with the following results : 



No. I broke at 2,968 lbs. 

 No. 2 „ „ 2,688 „ 

 No. 3 „ „ 3.360 „ 

 No. 4 „ „ 2,464 „ 

 (Each piece measured 30 x 2 x 2 inches.) 



The character of the break in Nos. i and 3 was very satisfactory, and 

 showed long and tough fibre. Nos. 2 and 4 were only fair. Several tests 

 for bending strains have been made, giving excellent results, the most 

 difficult and trying turns and strains being accomplished satisfactorily. 

 There is no doubt that, except for bent work, where very white wood is 

 demanded, and which is a condition which Japanese ash cannot fulfil, 

 this timber would satisfy all requirements. Sargent concludes his article 

 in the Forest Flora of Japan as follows : " Here are great supplies of oak 

 and ash of the best quality ... a storehouse of forest wealth, which, if 

 properly managed, could be drawn upon for all time." These remarks 

 are of singular importance now (1919) when we consider the gigantic 



