30 WOOD-USING INDUSTRIES OF ARKANSAS. 



black oak (Quercus velutina) . Of these oaks together there are approx- 

 imately 130,000,000 board feet in the Arkansas Forest, and 253,000,000 

 feet in the Ozark Forest. 



The red, Texan, and Spanish oaks are confined pretty closely to 

 the rich, moist soils of the north slopes and benches, while the yel- 

 low oak (Quercus velutina) prefers the drier soils of the ridges. Red 

 oak reaches its largest size on rich soils and may attain a diameter 

 of 3 feet. The wood of the black or yellow oak (Quercus velutina) is 

 likely to be brash and defective; that of all the other red oaks men- 

 tioned, however, is excellent in quality. 



HICKORY. 



The total stand of hickory, chiefly shagbark hickory (Hicoria ovata), 

 black hickory (Hicoria glabra), and mockernut hickory (Hicoria 

 alba), in the Arkansas Forest is about 350,000 board feet, and 

 in the Ozark Forest approximately 40,000,000 feet. The shagbark 

 flourishes on the high benches and north slopes, mockernut, usually, 

 on the ridges. Hickory attains its largest size in the Ozark Forest, 

 where it often reaches a diameter of 2 feet. The characteristics of 

 the various species differ little, and all of them are sold under the 

 one head — hickory. The wood is of good quality, flexible, tough, 

 and fine grained, well adapted to the manufacture of vehicle parts, 

 handles, and agricultural implements. Because of its increasing 

 scarcity, the few trees which may be removed in timber sales must be 

 closely utilized. 



RED OR SWEET GUM. 



Red gum (Liquidambar styracifiua) is found in the valleys, lower 

 moist slopes, and benches of north exposures. The stand in the 

 Arkansas Forest is about 3,348,000 feet, but the quantity in the 

 Ozark has not yet been determined. The tree reaches an average 

 height of 100 feet and a diameter of 2 feet. 



Up to 15 or 20 years ago red gum had very little commercial value, 

 but now it is being used extensively in the manufacture of lumber 

 and furniture. The wood is close grained, and it can be easily 

 stained. It is liable to serious warping when used green, but no 

 trouble is encountered with the lumber if thoroughly dried. 



SHORTLEAF PINE. 



A conservative estimate of the available saw stock of shortleaf pine 

 (Pinus echinata) in the Arkansas Forest is 750,000,000 board feet, 

 and in the Ozark 108,890,000 feet. On favorable soils on the lower 

 slopes the tree frequently attains a height of 100 feet and a diameter 

 of 3 feet. The wood is heavy and resinous, although less so than most 

 pitch pines. Its quality is good, and most of the lumber is used for 

 interior finish and structural work. 



