BLEMISHES IN HICKORY AND HORNBEAM. 



71 



to close them. The unusual extent of the stains in this sample sug- 

 gests that they spread after complete closure of the sapsucker wound, 

 and the specimen gives actual evidence that they do so spread for at 

 least two years after the original peck is entirely healed. 



The defects in mocker nut are very conspicuous and objectionable. 

 J. B. Burris, of Cloverdale, Ind., who sent in the last specimen de- 

 scribed, writes: "Recently a large sale of the timber was made, but 

 on account of the condition of the trees they were refused as being 

 worthless for lumber. The discolorations . . . sometimes run 

 entirely through the length of a tree, though frequently the lower 

 portion of the tree is free from the mark- 

 ings. . . . Upon inquiry I find that in 

 some localities more than half the hick- 

 ory trees are affected in this way and 

 thus rendered worthless except for fire- 

 wood." (Dec. 9, 1901.) 



Species of Juglandace^e blem- 

 ished. — Black walnut (H.), Texan wal- 

 nut, nutmeg hickory, pecan (fig. 19), 

 Texan pecan, bitter pecan, bitternut 

 (A. A. and A. M. and F.), mocker nut, 

 big shellbark (H.) (fig. 20), southern 

 shellbark, pignut, and woolly pignut. 



the hornbeams and birches (betu- 

 lace^e) . 



Blemishes in the wood of trees of this 

 family are usually small, consisting of 

 brown stains and sound brown to black 

 checks. In some cases, especially since 

 curly grain and bird's-eye are often pres- 

 ent, the effect is ornamental (fig. 21), but 

 probably ornaments as well as defects are 

 of no economic importance in the horn- 

 beams. No serious defects have been 

 found in the birches. 



Species of Betulace^e blemished — 





Fig. 19.— Effects of sapsucker work on 

 wood of pecan (Hicoria pecan). 

 Knotty checks and iron streaks. 



Hornbeam (H. and A. A.) 



(fig. 21), hop hornbeams (Ostrya virginiana and Ostrya Tcnowltoni) , 

 canoe birch, and sweet birch (according to Dr. Hopkins) . 



THE BEECHES, CHESTNUTS, AND OAKS (FAGACE.E). 



The woods of this family are more widely used than those of any 

 other deciduous trees. They are valuable for general construction, 

 cooperage, interior finish, and cabinetmaking, for which purposes 



