Woods of complex and very variable structure and therefore differing widely in quality, behavior, and consequently in applicability to the arts.

Ash

Wood heavy, hard, strong, stiff, quite tough, not durable in contact with soil, straight grained, rough on the split surface and coarse in texture. The wood shrinks moderately, seasons with little injury, stands well, and takes a good polish. In carpentry ash is used for finishing lumber, stairways, panels, etc.; it is used in shipbuilding, in the construction of cars, wagons, carriages, etc., in the manufacture of farm implements, machinery, and especially of furniture of all kinds, and also for harness work; for barrels, baskets, oars, tool handles, hoops, clothespins, and toys. The trees of the several species of ash are rapid growers, of small to medium height with stout trunks; they form no forests, but occur scattered in almost all our broad-leaved forests.

39. White Ash (Fraxinus Americana)

Medium, sometimes large sized tree. Basin of the Ohio, but found from Maine to Minnesota and Texas.

40. Red Ash (Fraxinus Pubescens)

Small-sized tree. North Atlantic States, but extends to the Mississippi.

41. Black Ash (Fraxinus Sambucifolia) (Hoop Ash, Ground Ash)

Medium-sized tree, very common. Maine to Minnesota, and southward to Virginia and Arkansas.

42. Blue Ash (Fraxinus Quadrangulata)

Small to medium sized. Indiana and Illinois; occurs from Michigan to Minnesota and southward to Alabama.

43. Green Ash (Fraxinus Viridis)

Small-sized tree. New York to the Rocky Mountains, and southward to Florida and Arizona.

44. Oregon Ash (Fraxinus Oregana)

Medium-sized tree. Western Washington to California.

Aspen

(See Poplar.)

Basswood

45. Basswood (Tilia Americana) (Lime Tree, American Linden, Lin, Bee Tree)

Wood light, soft, stiff but not strong, of fine texture, and white to light brown color. The wood shrinks considerably in drying, works and stands well; it is used in carpentry, in the manufacture of furniture and wooden ware, both turned and carved, in cooperage, for toys, also for paneling of car and carriage bodies. Medium to large sized tree, common in all Northern broadleaved forests; found throughout the eastern United States.

46. White Basswood (Tilia Heterophylla)

A small-sized tree most abundant in the Alleghany region.

Beech. 47. Beech (Fagus Ferruginea)

Wood heavy, hard, stiff, strong, or rather coarse texture, white to light brown, not durable in the ground, and subject to the inroads of boring insects; it shrinks and checks considerably in drying, works and stands well and takes a good polish. Used for furniture, in turnery, for handles, lasts, etc. Abroad it is very extensively employed by the carpenter, millwright, and wagon maker, in turnery as well as wood carving. The beech is a medium-sized tree, common, sometimes forming forests; most abundant in the Ohio and Mississippi basin, but found from Maine to Wisconsin and southward to Florida.

Birch

Wood heavy, hard, strong, of fine texture; sapwood whitish, heartwood in shades of brown with red and yellow; very handsome, with satiny luster, equaling cherry. The wood shrinks considerably in drying, works and stands well and takes a good polish, but is not durable if exposed. Birch is used for finishing lumber in building, in the manufacture of furniture, in wood turnery for spools, boxes, wooden shoes, etc., for shoe lasts and pegs, for wagon hubs, ox yokes, etc., also in wood carving. The birches are medium-sized trees, form extensive forests northward, and occur scattered in all broad-leaved forests of the eastern United States.

48. Cherry Birch (Betula Lenta) (Black Birch, Sweet Birch, Mahogany Birch)

Medium-sized tree; very common. Maine to Michigan and to Tennessee.

49. Yellow Birch (Betula Lutea) (Gray Birch)

Medium-sized tree; common. Maine to Minnesota and southward to Tennessee.

50. Red Birch (Betula Nigra) (River Birch)

Small to medium sized tree; very common; lighter and less valuable than the preceding. New England to Texas and Missouri.

51. Canoe Birch (Betula Papyrifera) (White Birch, Paper Birch)

Generally a small tree; common, forming forests; wood of good quality but lighter. All along the northern boundary of United States and northward, from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

Black Walnut

(See Walnut).

Blue Beech. 52. Blue Beech (Carpinus Caroliniana) (Hornbeam, Water Beech, Iron Wood)

Wood very heavy, hard, strong, very stiff, of rather fine texture and white color; not durable in the ground; shrinks and checks greatly, but works and stands well. Used chiefly in turnery for tool handles, etc. Abroad, much used by mill and wheel wrights. A small tree, largest in the Southwest, but found in nearly all parts of the eastern United States.

Bois D'Arc

(See Osage Orange).

Buckeye - Horse-Chestnut

Wood light, soft, not strong, often quite tough, of fine and uniform texture and creamy white color. It shrinks considerably, but works and stands well. Used for woodenware, artificial limbs, paper pulp, and locally also for building lumber. Small-sized trees, scattered.

53. Ohio Buckeye (*™Sculus Glabra) (Fetid Buckeye)

Alleghanies, Pennsylvania to Indian Territory.

54. Sweet Buckeye (*™Sculus Flava)

Alleghanies, Pennsylvania to Texas.