Qualities and Uses of the Woods of Ohio 
79 
persimmon, osage orange, ironwood, juneberry, and some of the oaks. 
These weighed when well dried, over 45 pounds per cubic foot. In 
the medium heavy list—or those that weighed from 35 to 45 pounds 
per cubic foot—are found red and yellow oak, hard maple, ash, yellow 
locust, beech, birch, and elm. Among the medium light woods may 
be named sycamore, soft maple, tulip poplar, chestnut, black walnut, 
cedar, and others. These weigh from 25 to 35 pounds per cubic foot. 
Among the lighter woods—those weighing less than 25 pounds per 
cubic foot—are found arbor-vitae, cottonwood, willow, white pine, 
catalpa, buckeye, and basswood. 
Fig. 3, A view of the State University woodlot showing fine young growth by 
natural regeneration. 
Moisture.—Ordinary well seasoned, or air dried, wood contains 
from 10 to 15 per cent of water. Lumber seasoned in the usual way 
and kept indoors, retains on the average a little more than 10 per 
cent of moisture. When exposed to the weather, or in contact with 
soil, seasoned wood absorbs moisture quickly or slowly depending 
upon the character of the wood tissue. If dry wood is immersed in 
water it increases in weight with greater or less regularity and rapid¬ 
ity. This increase in weight may continue for several months. A 
piece of oak that had been kept under water for more than six months 
was found to be still gaining in weight. As a rule, however, long 
continued immersion causes wood to lose in weight. This is due to 
