80 WOODPECKERS IN RELATION TO TEEES. 



are peculiar in that they lie mostly in the two to three layers of wood 

 beneath the wounds, more or less open checks are formed, varying 

 in size up to half an inch square and filled with the white crystallized 

 sap. These blemishes are numerous and seriously decrease the use- 

 fulness of the lumber. The wood is valuable, often being substituted 

 for black walnut. 



THE SYCAMORES (PLATANACE.E) . 



Defects due to sapsucker pecking have been observed in the wood 

 of two (Platanus occidentalis and P. racemosa) of the three native 

 sycamores. They are small brown checks and stains and are of no 

 economic importance. 



THE ROSE FAMILY (ROSACEA). 



The few arborescent species of this family are not highly valued for 

 their wood, but are used to a small extent for turned articles. The 

 defects produced by sapsuckers, varying from small to large open 

 knotty checks heavily stained, unfit them for this use. 



Mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus ledifolius) . — Sapsucker punc- 

 tures produce very serious blemishes in the wood — open, knotty, 

 black-walled cavities, some with crystalline sap deposit. Some of 

 these are fully an inch long, and in many cases a large black fissure 

 extends from them toward or even entirely to the bark, through 

 many annual layers of wood. The lumber is ruined as to both beauty 

 and "strength (Eureka, Cal., A. A. 202). 



Species of Rosace.e blemisiikd. — Vauquelinia californica, Cer- 

 cocarpus betuloides, 0. breviflorus, and C. ledifolius. 



THE APPLE FAMILY (HALACEE). 



Wood of the trees of this family is usually hard and tough and is 

 used to a small extent for mallets, tool handles, and turnery. The 

 defects produced by sapsuckers, when pronounced, make it useless For 

 such purposes, as they increase liability to splitting. They vary 

 from small brown or black stains to large open checks and fissures. 



California iioi.lv ( II< teromelesarbutifolia). — Trunks of this species 

 collected in California (A. A. and A. M. 235) contain conspicuous 

 defects due to sapsuckers (fig. 31). These are large knotty cavities, 

 deeply stained and surrounded by much gnarly growth, with long 

 fissures partly or wholly fdled with black-stained or white soft growth 

 extending toward the bark. These checks or fissures sometimes 

 exceed an inch in length. The wood is so distorted and blemished as 

 to be useless except for fuel. 



Species of Malaceje blemished. — Mdlus angustifolia (A. M.), 

 Mains diversifolia, California holly. Crataegus crusgaUi, C. locrhnata, 



