214 WOODS OF COMMERCE 



and warping, but durable if kept dry. Used in turnery, for musical 

 instruments, gun-stocks, etc., being practically identical with the 

 wood of the Sycamore. 



Maple, Oregon {A. macrophyllum Pursh.). Pacific slope of North 

 America. Also known as " California " or " Broad-leaved Maple." 

 Height 90 ft. or more ; diam. 4 ft. or more. W 40-5. Rather 

 light, hard, and strong. Used in Oregon for axe- and broom-handles, 

 snowshoe-frames, and furniture, and on radial sections exhibiting 

 occasional curly figure, which is highly prized for cabinet-work. 

 This figure is produced by an unexplained waviness or spiral twist 

 in the elements of the wood, which is rarely recognizable in the 

 growing tree, but produces transverse corrugations on the surface 

 of the log when the bark is removed, these curls or corrugations 

 varying in number in different trees from one, or less than one, to 

 several to the inch. Though scarcely visible in a transverse section, 

 this beautiful figuring is seen on all longitudinal or oblique sections, 

 appearing on the planed surface so like the light and shadow on 

 an undulating surface that it is difficult to beheve it smooth. It is 

 sometimes called " Eiddle-backed Maple " from its resemblance to 

 a variety of Sycamore used for the backs of violins. 



Maple, Red (A, rubrum L.). Canada and Eastern United States. 

 Known also as '' Soft, Swamp " or " Water Maple." Height 

 70-~90 ft. ; diam. 3-^4 ft. S.G. 618. W 38-5. R 811 kilos. 

 Sapwood brownish-white, with a small, irregular brown or reddish- 

 brown heart, moderately heavy, hard and elastic, close-grained, 

 compact, taking a very smooth pohsh, not strong or durable. Used 

 in turnery, chair-making, for wooden dishes, shovels, and other 

 small ware. Occasionally curled, when it is valued for gunstocks 

 and for veneers. The bird's-eye figure is rare in this species. This 

 wood does not enter into American export trade. 



Maple, Rock {A. barbdtum, Michx.). Eastern North America. 

 Also known as " Hard " or " Sugar Maple," and a variety as 

 " Black Maple." Height 50 — 100 ft. or more ; diam. 1 — 4 ft. 

 S.G. 691. W 43. R 1,149 kilos. White when first cut, becoming 

 rosy on exposure and when seasoned ; sapwood light yellowish ; 

 heart brown, heavy, very hard, fine and close in grain, compact, 

 strong, tough, taking a Gne polish, with a satiny lustre. The most 

 valuable species, but not durable if exposed, requiring two or three 

 years' seasoning. Used in New England as an Oak substitute, 

 in preference to Beech, Birch, or Elm, for house-frames, ships* 

 keels, axles, spokes, chairs and other furniture, flooring and interior 

 finish, wooden bowls, considered the best in the market, shoe-lasts, 

 pegs, saddle-trees, etc., and also for fuel. It is but little imported, 

 except when figured. " BHster " or " Landscape," " Bird's-eye " 

 or '' Pin," and " Curly " or '' Piddle-back " figures all occur in this 



