80 WOODPECKERS IN RELATION TO TREES. 
% 
are peculiar in that they lie mostly in the two to three layers of Wood 
beneath the wounds, more or loss open checks are formed, varying 
in size up to half an inch square and filled with the wliite 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 arc small brown checks and stains and are of no 
economic importance. 
THE ROSE FAMILY (rOSACE2E). 
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 
delects 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 Rosacea blemished. — Vauquelinia californica, Cer- 
cocarpus betuloides, C. breviflorus, and C. ledifolius. 
the apple family (malace^:). 
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 holly (Ilcteromeles arbutifolia) . — 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 filled 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 he useless except for fuel. 
Species of Mal.w k.e blemished. — Mains angustifolia (A. M.), 
Mains diver sifolia, California holly. Crataegus crusgatti, ('. lacrimata, 
