^ GRADING AND MEASURING 

 HICKORY TREES, LOGS, AND PRODUCTS s/ 



by 



Allyn M. i|Ierrick, Dean^ 

 George Foster Peabody School of Forestry 

 University of Georgia 

 Athens, Georgia 



CONTENTS 



Page Page 



Summary 1 Measurement and grading of 



Introduction 2 other primary products .... 11 



Measurement of trees Handle blocks and blanks 11 



and logs 2 Hickory striking tool handles ... 14 



Grading of trees and logs 5 Hickory for skis 14 



Purdue hardwood log Hickory poles and bark 15 



grades 8 Literature cited 17 



Lumber grade yields, quality Appendix 18 



indices and overrun 9 



SUMMARY 



There are no accepted standard grading systems specifically for hickory 

 trees, logs, or bolts, but grading systems developed by Purdue University and 

 the U. S. Forest Service are applicable for most hardwood species in the tem- 

 perate zone and appear to be suitable for hickory. Lumber grade yields have 

 been determined for a limited number of hickory trees and logs and are pre- 

 sented herein. Hickory product grades used by industry are also presented. 



The major problem in the utilization of hickory is not with high-grade 

 products such as ski stock, picker sticks, handles, etc., since there is a 

 constant, strong demand for these items. The big problem is the utilization 

 of the vast quantity of low-grade hickory. Continued demand for the high- 

 grade hickory trees has left many of our forests with a preponderance of 

 low-grade hickory trees that find little use and continue to increase in number 

 and volume. Accurate grading systems can be the key to the utilization of this 

 material, particularly if applied in the standing tree. By being able to classify 

 hickory trees for specific uses, logging operations can be integrated for a 

 variety of products and permit the hickory to be channeled into the proper 

 lines of commerce. 



This report is a starting point on hickory grades. It is hoped that other 

 research workers and industry will be inspired to further the effort. 



Xl Report prepared while Professor of Forest Management, Purdue 

 Agricultural Experiment Station, Lafayette, Indiana. 



