JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL WOOD COLLECTORS SOCIETY A Dedicated Group of Wood Collectors and Crafters

Volume 67, Number 3 May/June 2014

2014 the Year of celebrating the Joy of Wood Collecting Vol. 67, No. 3 ISSN 1068-7300 May/June 2014 The International Wood Collectors Society, founded in 1947, is a non-profi t society advancing information on wood.

Offi cers and Trustees President: Elaine Hunt,, USA Phone: E-mail: [email protected] Contents President-elect: Open Vice President: Bob Chastain,,USA President’s Page ...... 3 Phone: .E-mail: [email protected] Secretary-Treasurer: Paul and Kris Troyer, The Craftwoods of Cuba...... 4-5 USA Phone:. E-mail: [email protected] The Dying Giant ...... 6-7 Publications Chairman: Chuck Holder,, Canada Silky Dogwood & Tatarian Honeysuckle...... 6, 8 Phone:. E-mail: [email protected] First Past President: Garry Roux, USA Update on the IWCS 2014 AGM ...... 9 Phone: .E-mail: [email protected] Second Past President: Art Lee,, USA African Trees and Wood ...... 10-11 Phone: .E-mail: [email protected] Endowment Fund Chairman: Allen Nemetz, , USA Wood Meets ...... 12 Phone: E-mail: IWCS 2014 AGM Registration Form...... 13 Archivist: Dennis Wilson, China E-mail: Younger Woodies ...... 14-15 Regional Trustees A Tribute to Ernie Ives #3345-L ...... 15 AustralAsia (2013-2016): Harry Dennis, Victoria, Australia Canada (2012-2015): Robert Ritchie, Ontario, Canada Wood Used in the Sydney Yates Desk . . 16-17 EuroAfrica (2010-2016): Willem Hurkmans, Overijssel, Netherlands UK (2013-2016): Ramsey Pattison, Essex, United Kingdom Shrubwoods of the World ...... 18-19 USA Central (2014-2015): Wes Kolkmeier, Missouri,USA USA Great Lakes (2011-2014): John Burris, Indiana, USA Growth Rings 37 -The IWCS Record ...... 20-21 USA NE (2013-2016) Chuck Ray, Pennsylvania, USA Araucarioxyon going extinct?...... 21 USA NW (2010-2016): Alan Curtis, Oregon, USA USA SE (2013-2016): Jean Sumner, Virginia, USA Australian Woods 58-59...... 22-23 USA SW (2011-2014): Dave Mouat, California, USA Committee Chairs and Service Providers Member Listings and Requests ...... 24 All-Mail Auction: Open Timber craftsman, adventurer and photographer . . . 25 Membership Committee: Bob Chastain, Indiana,USA. New-member Correspondent: Garry Roux, Illinois, USA An Intrusion into my birdseye nest ...... 26-28 Nominations Committee: Garry Roux, Illinois, USA Corporate Membership: Daryle Layton, Idaho, USA IsItREDorIsItWHITE?...... 29 Student Membership: Open Membership Directory: Susan Stamm, Oklahoma, USA Regis-Tree...... 30 Website Committee: Art Lee, Maryland, USA Ernie Ives Marquetry Fund Raiser . . . . . 30, 32 Webmaster: Erlene Tarleton, California, USA Wood Import Permits: Alan Curtis, Oregon, USA TransportingWoodAcross the Canada/USABorder . . . . 31 Wood Specimen Kits: Gary Green, Indiana, USA BookReview...... 31

The World of Wood is published bimonthly by the International Wood Collectors Society Editor (IWCS). IWCS is devoted to distributing information on collecting wood, correctly identifying Mihaly Czako PhD and naming wood specimens, and using wood in creative crafts. Contributions for publication , may be educational, scientifi c, technical or of general interest to members and relevant to the , USA purposes of the Society. Papers may be refereed by an Editorial Board of technically trained Phone: members. The phrases ‘World of Wood’, ‘IWCS Wood Data Sheet’ and all materials contained E-mail: [email protected] Associate Editors herein are © Copyright protected by the International Wood Collectors Society. Address requests to reprint material to the Editor. Ken Bassett — Washington, USA The World of Wood is published as a benefi t to members of the IWCS, a non-profi t Richard Crow — Cornwall, England organization of botanists, dendrologists, and other scientists, technologists, wood collectors, Alan Curtis — Oregon, USA hobbyists and crafts people for mutual assistance and reciprocation. Fred Holder — Washington, USA Applications are available from the Secretary-Treasurer or from the IWCS website. Dues and Willem Hurkmans — Crete, Greece address changes also should be directed to the Secretary-Treasurer. Barry & Danielle James — KZN, South Africa We encourage your membership in our unique international organization. Morris Lake — Queensland, Australia On-line Journal: (Couples) US $35/yr; 3 yrs/$90; 5 yrs/$125; or Life membership/$500; David Mouat PhD — California, USA USA Hardcopy Journal: (Couples) US $40/yr; 3 yrs/$105; 5 yrs/$150; or Life Nelis Mourik — South Holland, Netherlands membership/$575; Chuck Ray PhD — Pennsylvania, USA Australia Hardcopy Journal: (Couples) US $45/yr; 3 yrs/$120; 5 yrs/$175; or Life Susan Stamm — Oklahoma, USA Webmaster membership/$650; : [email protected] Other countries Hardcopy Journal: (Couples) US $55/yr; 3 yrs/$150; 5 yrs/$225; or Life Worldwide web : http://www.woodcollectors.org membership/$750; Corporate On-line Journal: US $125/yr; 3 yrs/$325; or 5 yrs/$450; all countries Corporate Hardcopy Journal: US $150/yr; 3 yrs/$375; or 5 yrs/$525; all countries Student Member: US $15 per year; all countries

Cover photographs Background: Birdseye maple (Acer saccharum), from the collection of Rejean Drouin. Center: Gifts from Cuba made from granadillo (Brya ebenus) - story by Greg Reed 2 World of Wood May/June 2014 A Message From the President Elaine Hunt #8174

Change of Seasons

With the change of seasons comes a change of activities. Here in the USA, spring has come; it’s time to go outside and enjoy all that nature has to offer. Trees are turning green with new growth, fl owers are blooming and birds are busy with nest building. Isn’t it wonderful to watch things change this time of year? But, before you know it, summer will be here and people will be going on vacations. Have you ever thought about combining your love of wood with your vacation? Over the years I have visited sawmills, hardwood dealers, logging museums and hunted down giant trees in whatever state we were in. I’ve even seen my late husband, Manley, with his arms around a huge tree, telling me, “I’m only measuring the circumference”. He was a true tree hugger. We have seen some magnifi cent trees along the way. You never know where the beauty of wood will show up; in an old barn, a railroad station, a museum or a historical house. We would also try to work in an IWCS meeting along the way. So next time you travel, either short or long, keep an eye out for the beauty of trees and wood, then let us all know what you have discovered. Art Lee had an excellent article in the last issue of WOW about the carved pine Coat of Arms of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, USA. I would love to hear about places I have never been and the things you encounter. In my travels this summer, I plan to attend the Northeast Regional Meeting in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, USA and the AGM in Huntsville, Ontario, Canada. There are also meetings in South Australia and Indiana, USA. Check out the Wood Meets page in this issue for more details. Now, I’m going to jump onto my soap box. You have heard this from me before. IWCS is in need of someone to step up and host the 2015 Annual Meeting. If no one comes forward, it will be the fi rst time in many years, that IWCS has not had a meeting. When I took on the job of President Elect and then President, I told you I believed in being an active member and asked you to join me. Now is the time to become more active. We all enjoy going to meetings to learn new things, meet old friends and to buy wood. They are a lot of fun and we look forward to the next one. Besides all this, there is the serious side of the meetings. This is where IWCS gets a great deal of its funding and I am afraid without the meetings we would not be able to meet our fi nancial obligations. If the Annual Meeting disappears, what will be next, regional meetings or even the Winter Woodfest in Florida, USA? Last year’s (2013) AGM meeting was in Howick, South Africa and this year’s (2014) AGM is in Huntsville, Ontario, Canada. Don’t you think it is time to have it in the USA again? So please, think long and hard about what you are willing to give up. Talk to your regional members and see if you will be the one to step up to the plate and host the 2015 Annual Meeting. Enjoy the spring weather and hope to see you this summer.

NOTICE OF PAST PRESIDENT’S PASSING It’s with a sad heart that I have to inform you that Dan James passed away around 5:30 PM, on May 2, 2014.

A note to contributors Please submit articles as you complete them. I can then place them into future editions so each edition will present a balance of topics. Last minute changes before June 25 for the July/August 2014 issue. May/June 2014 World of Wood 3 Adventures in Wood Collecting - The Craftwoods of Cuba by Greg Reed #7616 I recently spent 2 weeks in Cuba to de madera es esta?” (What type of check my notes that I sent him email.. escape a particularly cold Canadian wood is this?). I must have mastered Noteworthy craftwoods encountered winter. I found there is a very active it well enough that most sellers wood crafting business making items responded positively. It then became Granadillo (cocuswood, Brya ebenus) to sell to tourists. There was an a bit of fun trying to identify the “tipo is a hard heavy/dense wood with amazing variety of colorful woods de madera”. As soon as they fi red off a a very distinctive color difference used and in general, the items were quick Spanish reply, I presented them between the heartwood and the well made and inexpensive. with a notepad and pen and indicated sapwood (see the cover of this issue). I visited about 30 shops and I would like them to write it down. For turned items the crafters seemed to Most were pleased to do so. try to keep some of both colors. Even But this wasn’t always successful. after days in the blazing sun, there was Many sellers confi dently named very little splitting or cracking evident. their woods but it became evident The wood is also used for making they didn’t always know. For claves - the musical percussion sticks example, I was shown a lot of often heard played in Latin music “mahogany”, “cedar” and “teak” bands. The resonant sound might also which defi nitely didn’t resemble make the wood suitable for marimba the species we are familiar with. keys. Perhaps these terms have a Guayacan (Guaiacum offi cinale and G. different meaning in Cuba. I’m sanctum, the latter being less common) sure there was no intention to deceive. My best success at identifi cation was meeting a craftsman/seller sidewalk and beach market stalls in Varadero. Sr. Troadio Rivero along the north coast from Havana to Solorzano had a leather bound album Varadero to Cayo Santa Maria. This containing a large number of wood article outlines my wood collecting specimens. With my rudimentary experiences. Spanish going back and forth, I Altogether I was able to add about 35 eventually was made to understand species of woods to my collection by he didn’t want to sell his album buying wooden souvenir items. But as but he agreed to make another one. discussed later, I was only able to feel Returning a few days later, I was confi dent in identifying about 25. delighted to see him there with my “Muestrario de Maderas” (Sample Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to source book of woods). It contained 25 Guayacan - Guaiacum sp. pieces large enough to make standard small specimens all labeled with sized IWCS specimens. With more the local names. This has proved to time and a car and driver/translator, be invaluable back home trying to is also a hard heavy/dense wood. It it would have been possible to visit properly identify the woods. is one of several species of wood sold some of the workshops where the as”Lignum vitae”. The heartwood items were made. Of the 25 samples, I was able to varies from a greenish/dark brown to confi rm the names of 22 by referring almost black in color. It was often The language challenge to the series of “Mil Maderas” books turned and polished and sometimes of Sr. Manuel Soler who also agreed to carved. The sellers all stressed the Always, there was the problem of odor of the wood. According to language. I don’t them, in an enclosed room, the wood speak Spanish and in odor will drive out mosquitoes and any case the Cubans cockroaches. One seller told me the (apparently) speak wood was recovered from underwater their own dialect. and had to be dried for a few months Most craftwood before use. (Could he have been sellers know a referring to air-drying or seasoning little basic English before use?) but seldom did I encounter someone Items made of guayacan tended to who spoke English be more expensive which possibly well and could means the wood was diffi cult to properly identify and obtain or it could be due to the extra name the species of work involved in shaping it. The woods in their items carving work appeared to be done for sale. with a rotary Foredom or Dremel type grinding tool. So I memorized the question, “¿Que tipo 4 World of Wood May/June 2014 I was on the lookout for what we refer to as the legendary “Cuban mahogany” believing it to be the true, superior or genuine wood favored by fi ne cabinetmakers. I ended up somewhat confused. There was a lot of wood that I believed to be mahogany but the wood varied considerably in color and density. I wasn’t able to see clearly examples of both Swietenia mahagoni and S. macrophylla, the latter possibly being cultivated in Cuba. Asking if the wood was “Honduras mahogany” just brought a puzzled reaction. It seems that the craft sellers don’t differentiate between the mahoganies. Back home, conferring with IWCS member Herm Stolte who has done extensive work with wood identifi cation using a microscope, I

(Erisma uncinatum, planted for However, after returning home, I saw shoreline stabilization), caoba, Cuban a television documentary about a mahogany (Swietenia mahagoni), cultural anthropologist who was cedro, Spanish cedar (Cedrela investigating some unique customs odorata), guara, (Coccoloba venosa), and songs encountered in remote majagua, blue Mahoe (Taliparti parts of Cuba. She was able to trace tiliaceum, syn.= Hibiscus elatus), the origins back to a specifi c region marabú (Dichrostachys cinerea), of Sierra Leone and concluded that naranjo, orange tree (Citrus sinensis), they must have come to Cuba in the soplillo, horsefl esh mahogany 19th century with the large numbers (Lysiloma latisiliquum). of Africans brought in to work on the Mahogany - Swietenia sp. sugar plantations. Unfortunately, the boxes are going learned that identifi cation using cell to split and warp. There was no So it’s interesting to wonder if perhaps structure examination was uncertain. allowance for wood movement. But the making of African-appearing I intend to repair them after the wood masks has been going on in Cuba for a I brought back two samples of what I has stabilized. long time. I can’t say for certain. thought might be Swietenia mahagoni. They were selected on the basis of Masks Acknowledgement beautiful color, high density, and small I saw a number of carved wooden I would like to acknowledge the help to invisible cell structure. Until I see masks. These resembled what are of Sr. Manuel Soler (#7190). He was some more specimens, I can’t be sure made in Africa, Papua New Guinea, able to provide me with probable what they are. South Pacifi c Islands and many other identifi cation of several of the woods. Manufactured Boxes areas around the world with artistic His set of “Mil Maderas” directories tribal traditions. My fi rst thought was were invaluable in helping translate Most sellers had a large stock of small from the local Cuban Spanish names wooden boxes. The boxes typically of the woods into international were very well made with beautiful, binomial. With the diffi culties I colorful woods. Most likely they encountered with only a few species, were made in small production runs I can’t imagine what he had to go in workshops equipped with power through with hundreds of species each machinery. having multiple names at the various In the attached photo (next column), locations in Central America. the boxes are made of 16 different And I would like to thank Chuck wood species of which I believe I was Holder who generously loaned me able to tentatively identify 12 using books from is his remarkable library their local names. Here are the Cuban of reference books. and English names: acana bulletwood (Manilkara valenzuelana), almendro, I encountered tropical almond tree (Terminalia additional woods catappa), amaranto, purpleheart that the crafters were simply copying in Cuba. I would (Peltogyne sp.), bijaguara, wild coffee them knowing that the tourists might be willing to e-mail (Colubrina arborescens), cambará buy them. the listing to anyone who requests it. May/June 2014 World of Wood 5 The Dying Giant by Mark Peet #9804 Over the years I have been able to stem trunk is wider than your car (see breast height) tree is atypical of the enjoy a big tree in Moravia with each photos on the opposite page). You get species, having an oval crown 66’ feet visit to my in-laws. After years of out of your car just to touch it. Then (~20 m) wide and 88 feet (~27 m) tall. reading original articles by New York you realize as locals stare at you, The second tree is just down route resident Ron DeWitt, I’m saddened by you’re another one of those tourists. 38 a mile (~1,600 m) , an American the fact that only reading old issues Well, I’ve been a tourist for years, sycamore, Platanus occidentalis. and reprints in new issues of WoW are having this urge to grasp another close This tree is along Dry Creek, 100 the end of a long road of knowledge. I look each time I drive by this 28.6+ yards (~91 m) east of the levy by the hope to honor him with a tribute to the foot (~8.7 m) cbh (circumference @ elementary school. This younger tree big tree of Moravia. breast height (109.5 inch or ~278 cm boasts an 80.5 inch (~205 cm) DBH DBH ) tree, which I should add is and stands with a handful of twisted The town of Moravia, New York, quite uncommon in the Eastern United forking leaders in the 105’ foot (32 m) USA is at the southern tip of Owasco States. It stands out more now. wide crown. This tree stands at 110’ Lake with Auburn to the north and feet (~34 m) tall. There are many other Ithaca to the south, Cayuga Lake to As statistics would show, time wins in bigger trees in New York State and I the west, and Skaneateles Lake to the the end. Late spring of 2013 brought invite you to visit the DEC web site to east. Moravia holds many treasures high localized winds to the small look over the state Big Tree Registry. found in small towns across New York village of Moravia on May 23rd, and State and the world alike. The barber the Big Tree fell victim. Oak Hill I also ask you to respect the property shop, the wine and spirits store, the Road was shut down for a few days owners of these amazing trees. The breakfast stop and hardware store while the county’s arborists tried to Oak Hill tree encroaches on the town remind you of times gone by when remove broken hazard branches and road right of way. This is the only people cared about neighbors and were balance the crown. The resulting way I got pictures without disrupting truly pleased to be of service. Even tree appeared completely topped, the owners and their earned privacy with the recent additions of a few pollarded, mangled, and crying. Little without trespass. Like Ron Dewitt, I national chain stores, the village of re-growth was spotted afterward. I fear would ask you to be professional in Moravia has retained the small town the tale of death will soon be told. I action, and get out and enjoy your atmosphere. was able to get a few small branches community, state, providence, country as souvenirs, but the rest was chipped and world as respectable stewards of Sadly, one of the town’s longest living or promised to locals for fi rewood. the land. residents is dying without grace, as I call it “The Big Tree” of Moravia. The Big Tree stands as a shadow of To obtain additional information This massive Eastern Cottonwood, what it was, surrounded by a gaping on “Big Trees”, contact your local Populus deltoides, has stood the test hole in the urban forest canopy. Travel municipality, natural resources or of time and the ax of man. Growing 100 yards (~91 m) north on Route 38, conservation departments in your area. along a macadam county road, being from the intersection of Route 38 and You can learn more about the National ever dowsed with salt and cinder 38A at the village center. Turn right Big Tree Register of the USA, by each winter, it has held its ground. onto Oak Hill Road, proceed 90 feet contacting the Big Tree Program This magnifi cent tree has been hidden (~27 m) and try not to swallow your Director at the following address: in plain sight for many lifetimes. tongue. There it is, or should I say From a distance, it blended into the what is left of it. While in Moravia, American Forests surrounding trees, seeing that it was check out 2 other notable trees. One 734 15th Street NW, Suite 800 of a similar height, boasting 108 feet is a bald cypress, Taxodium distichum Washington, DC 20005 (~33 m) tall and a diminishing crown on Skinner Hill Rd behind the post Telephone: (202) 955-4500 width of 99 feet (~30 m). The other offi ce. This tree was planted by Dr. Fax: (202) 955-4588 cottonwoods and tulip poplars help Cyrus W. Powers in 1873 and has http://www.americanforests.org/ hide it. Then it slaps you in the face been noted as the farthest north mature bigtrees/bigtrees- with surprise as you approach the representative of its species. This search/ tree realizing that the massive single 54.0 inch (~137 cm) DBH (diameter Silky Dogwood & Tatarian Honeysuckle by Mark Peet #9804 Just like many woodnuts, I see things foot in length, with a base diameter or other projects. After milling, each in wood that are not there yet: a of 2.25 inches (~57 mm) up to almost rip was hot dipped in paraffi n wax walking stick, an Adirondack chair 3.0 inches (~76 mm). I’ve never seen and weighed. Now, like with so many or bed, a carving or a sample. Last large diameters for silky dogwood other woods, the wait. spring, my employer was clearing in the northeast US, so I was content a partial lot to increase company with these sticks. I milled most at ¾” After just one month, I was surprised parking. There were many clumps thick by 9” inches long and 1⅝ inches and depressed at how the wood had of silky dogwood, Cornus amomum. wide. I had this delusion that I could distorted. I’ve weighed lumber piles but never had considered it for sample I thought, ‘What a great chance to end up gluing two pieces and end up stock. From the fi rst week in April get some samples!” I’ve always with stock good enough for a standard until the fi rst week in June, most of found pleasure in collecting my own sample. Each was cut over pith to samples. limit check and split actions. I set a the dogwood had lost 25% weight and, few full sticks aside for walking sticks more surprising, size. What started I gathered about ten stems, three to six ...continued on page 8. 6 World of Wood May/June 2014 The Dying Giant on July 12, 2007, August 13, 2012 and June 2, 2013. Mark & Kimberlee stand by the tree. Mark is 6’ tall and has an arm span of 6’-6”. May/June 2014 World of Wood 7 at ¾ of an inch was just over ⅝ inch staining in my case. I refer to “Farmer potpourri in minutes. I’ve done the thick. I had never seen shrinkage in math”, don’t count your chicks before same with olive and a few others. I domestic wood like this. I could live they hatch and don’t put all your eggs also have noticed that if the fl owers with it, had it not twisted, too. in one basket. My best results were are pink, pink often shows up in the the sections that had pith contained in milled wood. Some of the garden After seeing this, the silky dogwood them. Go fi gure… varieties that have almost a red fl ower walking sticks were sacrifi ced. They were cut at ⅞ inch thick to be safe seem to have a little stronger pink Tatarian Honeysuckle hue in the wood. But over a few years and one was cut containing pith. my honeysuckle seems to continue These samples did not lose weight Over the last 20 years I’ve had many degrading with new checks, twists or like the others, but they were also sample possibilities pass before me cupping. drying in the racks in the meantime. and several through my hands. I’ve Come November, the fi rst cut batch of had stock offered, turned it down, This past spring I had the opportunity dogwood had been at a stable weight only to fi nd out the species a week, to harvest a local specimen with a 6” since July, most having lost 33% of month or even a few years later. On inch base and two 4” inch main stems. their starting weight. The second batch the other hand, I’ve received, rough This early April harvest was just like had been stable since August. The milled, dried, and fi nish milled stock so many others but I tried something second batch had lost 16% weight, not that still sits on a shelf unidentifi ed. different. I milled one 4” inch stem shrunk as much as the fi rst and had Past member, Bob Robacker #116-E, and let the other set for 7 months. The not twisted as badly. And to humor would label his unknowns just to tease one I milled was just as in the past. me more, the ones with pith centered me. He would have the genus and put Pieces would blow apart on the saw, in them were the most stable looking, ‘damnifi no’ (damned if I know) and split in half after being milled and nearly no checking, twist or cupping. other witty things as the species. We while milling the other pieces. The However, batch two still went from ⅞ both got a warm sensation when his wood was not frozen; it was about 44- of an inch to ¾ of an inch heavy over wife, a former catholic nun, would 46 oF at harvest. Even as I hot dipped pith and shrunk to anywhere between read these “Latin” names. the fresh cut ends in hot wax, pieces would pop, crack and upset me. One species that has eluded me over time is Tatarian honeysuckle, Lonicera The milled pieces developed ring tatarica. I’ve pulled hundreds from separation and blue and green stain in my property and probably thousands some while drying. November rolled over the years in the environmental around so I tried re-milling some work fi eld. I’ve had several 40-70 year that were left in half rounds. To my old plants in my hands. Rarely, they “surprise”, I released more stored would have a 4-6 inch diameter base energy. I then milled the round stock for a foot or less. I’ve milled them that had been waiting since April. like so many others only to have them There was no staining. I used the splits fall apart. I’ve had them blow apart and cracks as division points. Not on the saw, check vertically, check surprisingly, this wood had already ring separated and spirally checked in - Cornus amomum spirally and ring separate. I’ve always Silky dogwood enjoyed the sweet smell. I am amazed several spots. Yes, some of it looked 11/16 and 23/32nds of an inch on the that I can take a dried piece, run it better than that milled in the spring, edges. The twist was between 3/16 and over the jointer and add the shaving to but it still needs to dry. 5/16 for the heavier stock and 4/16 to boiling water and have a honeysuckle I’ve discussed this with several 3/8 for the smaller stock. friends in the landscape I’ll be lucky if I get ¾ profession and the teaching inch wide strips out of arena of Penn State professors batch one. Batch two and teaching assistants. A is nearly as poor if I partial conclusion is that the want bark free samples. frequent heavy snow falls and I would recommend rapid melt offs stress the wood to others to choose and even develop micro- the base sections of fractures that become evident silky dogwood that with the milling process. This are upright and appear is similar to ring shake in to have always been lumber trees. Tortuous and so. Secondly, mill spiral grain growth common to your stock heavier the wood does not help either. than commonly done. So I ask you, how have you Weighting milled pieces dealt with these issues? Do is a good idea. Drying these issues occur in the the rounds for 30 or species where you live? Is it more days previous held to a phenotype, a climatic to milling might be location or just another benefi cial. If they split, method of processing? I’d like you cut there. I had no fungal Tatarian honeysuckle to know. markrpeet@xxxxxx 8 World of Wood May/June 2014 Update on the IWCS 2014 AGM, Huntsville, Ontario, Canada – 02-07.September.2014 by Robert Ritchie #3457-L “April showers bring May fl owers” years and has collected a garage full of the promise of free grants of “good as the saying goes, but as I write this BURLS! Then there is a local brewery farmland” (all you had to do was clear here in my hometown of Burk’s Falls, that makes a delicious “Spruce Tip 5 acres, build a dwelling and a barn Ontario, ½ hour north of Huntsville, Beer”. “Bear Chairs”? I’m working within 5 years!). Many people jumped we have barely got rid of the snow, on it. Canoe makers – coming up. at the “opportunity”, including my and ice is still on most local lakes. My What else is there, let’s see – no – great-great grandparents and their fi ve family and I have just fi nished making you’ll just have to get yourselves up sons and families, only to discover Maple Syrup for the 2014 season; the here to fi nd out! that the land wasn’t quite what it was buds on some trees are beginning to made out to be (for good farming, that break, Willows and Elms are fl owering I can tell you about just a couple of is!). I mentioned the Canadian Shield as are early garden plants like Crocus, program items at the venue. The earlier; this land is granite based Scilla and others. Time to get the Business Meeting will likely take (decipher that as “lots of rock”). For vegetable gardens started; time, place on the afternoon of Tuesday.02. those of you arriving from the south, also, to get back to all the unfi nished September at the meeting location. especially coming north from Toronto, construction projects that got closed Ladies – who would like to make a Ontario, you will be passing through down last fall due to an early snow/ traditional ash-splint basket? I have some of the best farmland in Southern winter that never stopped until a week just confi rmed a speaker coming Ontario, and then, just past Orillia you or so ago, including the woodworking from Winterthur (Delaware) to talk leave the good farmland and cross on shop that came to a grinding halt! to us about early wooden furniture to the Canadian Shield. But don’t get More than anything else it’s time to conservation and restoration. How me wrong – it is the rock outcrops, the get everything fi nalized for the 2014 about a father and son (new members beautiful granite cliffs, the northern AGM, which is now a little over four I signed up) who make the most lakes, the deciduous and coniferous months away! beautiful solidbody electric guitars forests, the quaint old towns, villages from fi gured local woods and exotic and hamlets with vestiges of their Okay, so what’s in place? Meeting woods? There are some good early industries that make this area location – done. Accommodation walking areas nearby, one of which one of Ontario’s most desirable four arrangements – done. Caterer for leads up to a lovely overlook above seasons destinations. But more about meals at the meeting location – Huntsville. Ed Hearst has indicated this part of the world in my next fi nalized earlier this week, and I’m that he is interested in attending and update. working on revising the Registration talking to us about wood ID and Form so members can choose meal structure; for this we may be able to One last bit to mention. Next to our options. Now, on to the program and use the fully-equipped modern lab at meeting place is Huntsville’s high schedule of events. Two optional the Waterloo Summit Centre for the school. I will be meeting with the bus trips are shaping up; the fi rst one Environment (this building is a short head of their woodworking shop/ will go north from Huntsville into walk away from the meeting space and program to discuss some sort of the beautiful Almaguin Highlands, also houses some of the dorm-style “venture” that will be mutually the second one will go south through accommodation we have arranged – benefi cial to their students and the Muskoka Lakes area. How does see other meeting information already our members. We have a good lunch beside the shores of “the on-line and in WoW). I expect Alan opportunity to show what we do as largest freshwater lake in the world Curtis and I will go tree and wood “woodnuts”, and to encourage the without an island” at one of the oldest exploring on the local trails, too! students to pursue vocations and girls’ summer camps in Ontario interest in wood, wood collecting and sound? Would you like to go on a Okay, a bit about this part of Ontario. woodworking. Also, I NEED you, dinner cruise of the Muskoka Lakes Logging and lumbering opened the the attending members, to get in touch aboard the oldest still-operating mail area up in the 1800s, with the major with me to let me know what you will steamship in Canada? Have you ever species of importance being White demonstrate, talk about, display, or seen a circular sawmill that cuts slabs Pine (Pinus strobus), many of which whatever you think other members out of granite rock from the Canadian were greater than four feet in diameter. would like to see and be involved Shield? How about furniture made The rivers were the primary early with. Sawmill? Public Day? Wood & from recycled posts, beams and means of travel for the First Nations Craft Auctions? Help me pull all of granary fl ooring from century old peoples, then the Discoverers and this together. IT’S YOUR 2014 AGM! barns? Oh, and here is something I’m Voyageurs. The Ontario Government working on – our caterer’s husband later opened the area, starting in the has been in the forest industry for 35 mid-1800s, to the fi rst settlers, with May/June 2014 World of Wood 9 by Barry and Danielle James #9380 Millettia grandis (Umzimbeet) Family: Fabaceae Tree description and distribution is valued for the manufacture Millettia grandis of furniture and small domestic is a spreading tree implements. It is an extremely with a good canopy. It is found on heavy and hard timber, with an oily the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal feel. A very durable wood, it is also coasts, where it occurs on the margins quite resistant to impregnation with of evergreen forests. preservatives. It is hard to work with Wood description and diffi cult to plane, but polishes well and is good for wood turning. It glues The fi ne-textured, straight-grained, well, but is diffi cult to nail, requiring yellow/brown hard wood of Millettia preboring prior to nailing, but the grandis, with its attractive coloration, nail holding properties are good.

Mechanical properties of Millettia grandis Shrinkage Green-Oven Dry: Radial 3.10 Tangential 5.10 Shrinkage Green-Air Dry: Radial 2.10 Tangential 4.10 Density /Weight: 1180 (1000-1180) kg/m3 73.6 (62.4 - 73.6) lb/cu. ft. Modulus of Rupture: 182 MPa (26,390 PSI) Modulus of Elasticity: 19,237 MPa (2,789,365 PSI)

Compression Parallel to Grain: 68.3 MPa (9,903) PSI) Sample of Millettia grandis, with a Toughness: 61.6 Nm (~545 inch-pounds) bleached Shellac fi nish The planked wood must be seasoned very slowly to avoid deep checking. The wood doesn’t have a distinct odour or any irritant properties. Uses Uses of the wood are listed in the CSIR wood properties database as construction, industrial fl ooring, mining, tool handles, sports goods, agricultural implements, musical instruments, drawing tables and instruments, poles, toys, turnery, joinery, walking sticks and batons.

Flowering branch of Millettia grandis (by Geoff Nichols). 10 World of Wood May/June 2014 It is used extensively by rural communities, who harvest it from forests, particularly for building huts and kraals and for wood carving. It is also used for making tough, bicoloured walking sticks, which are sold to tourists by rural people. Traditional uses of the tree include using the powdered root as a fi sh poison, but the fi sh must be boiled before consumption. It is reported that a mixture of roots, with those of Croton species, with one part of lion’s fat and one part of python’s fat, is burnt in the house as a tranquiliser to dispel worries; other recipes exist for sleep-inducing cures, based Millettia grandis pods (by David Johnson)

on the roots. The ground seed, soaked in milk, is used as a remedy for roundworm, but with caution as consuming too many seeds is poisonous. Ground seed can also be used as an arrow poison. The only animals to utilise the plants are baboons, which strip and eat the bark, and some butterfl ies, whose larvae feed on the pods. Availability and pricing Millettia grandis is never available on SANParks auctions and is not available commercially. However, it is used extensively by rural communities, who harvest it from forests, although the manner in which it is being used is unsustainable and this needs to be addressed. Potential for cultivation The growth rate of Millettia grandis is fairly rapid, about 80 cm per year. It can be planted along pastures and fence lines to act as a windbreak and shelters for animals and can be harvested at 10-15 years for planks in high rainfall areas. It is a good tree for large-scale shade plantings, such as in avenues, sports grounds and municipal parks. It also makes an attractive garden and street tree and it does not have an aggressive root system.

End grain : 10X (top) and 90X (bottom) (by Dr. Jean-Claude Cerre) May/June 2014 World of Wood 11 Wood Meets IWCS NORTHEAST REGIONAL MEETING June 26 - 28, 2014 Williamsport, PA. USA Hosted by: Chuck Ray, Trustee NE Region Questions or comments or to help contact Chuck Ray, cdrpsu@xxxx or call Lynda Ray at xxx-xxx-xxxx for registration. Holiday Inn reservations should be made separately at 570-327-8231. The Holiday Inn has given us a room rate of $117.00 per room until June 1. Tell them you’re with IWCS. Thursday, June 26th. From 3 to 5, registration in the lobby of the Holiday Inn. At 5 PM, a bus will depart from the Holiday Inn to take attendees to historic Bowman Field, the home of the Williamsport Crosscut- ters, the Class A farm team for the Philadelphia Phillies. We have a group ballpark dinner on an outfi eld pavilion and watch the game together, and return to the Holiday Inn on the bus after the game. Friday, June 27th. Our business meeting will convene from 8:30 till 10:30. We’ll have a special guest speaker from 10:30 until 11:30. During the morning session, a fun activity will be hosted for spouses not attending the morning meeting. After lunch, we’ll open our displays area, and anyone with displays or dem- onstrations will be welcome to set up on a table and go to it. Finally, around 3, we’ll close with the tradi- tional IWCS auction. Saturday, June 28th. We’ll start the day with another delicious breakfast buffet, and then we’re off for a day of touring. Depending on the fi nal schedule and interest, we’ll hit two or three small local museums, tour “Millionaire’s Row”, a section of Williamsport with magnifi cent old homes built by the lumber barons, have a nice picnic lunch overlooking the Susquehanna River, and end with a riverboat tour of the area where the sawmills operated.

2014 Australasian Conference IWCS AUSTRALIAN ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING NARACOORTE SOUTH AUSTRALIA Kanawinka (Land of Tomorrow) Wednesday October 22nd – MONDAY October 27th, 2014 The South Australian members of IWCS invite members to Naracoorte in South Australia. The title of the 5-day event is Kanawinka, the aboriginal meaning 'Land of Tomorrow'. Kanawinka is the name of Australia's most extensive volcanic province of which the lower South East of the South Australia is a part. Meeting tours will highlight sweeping limestone plains, studded with remarkable sinkholes, caves and extinct volcanoes, not to forget the interesting trees. An optional Post Tour, for Monday 27th & Tuesday 28th of October will be outlined later in our program. Accommodation will be at the Naracoorte Holiday Park. 81 Park Terrace, Naracoorte. For your personal bookings, go to www.naracoorteholidaypark.com.au Free call 1800 999 899, Phone xxxxxx Mick and Marg Sanderson. It would be appreciated if you could make your bookings by the end of August, please. Alternative accommodation available at the Naracoorte Hotel /Motel if required. SOUTHEAST REGIONAL WINTER WOODFEST FEBRUARY 11 – 15, 2015 Lake Yale Baptist Conference Center near Eustis, Florida USA Plans are being made for the next meeting. Anyone interested in giving a class, demonstration or technical session is asked to contact John Burris or Bob Chastain. Judy Chastain will be getting the craft classes together. Ideas for the classes, activities and evening entertainment are always welcome. Marilyn Nunan and Elaine Hunt will be taking care of the registration. Think about helping out at the registration desk and the auctions. We can always use volunteers. John Burris: xxx, Bob & Judy Chastain: xxx, Marilyn Nunan: xxx, Elaine Hunt: xxx We are looking forward to a fantastic meeting; come and join us. 12 World of Wood May/June 2014 REGISTRATION FORM -- IWCS 2014 AGM 02-07.SEPTEMBER.2014 ACTIVE LIVING CENTRE -- HUNTSVILLE, ONTARIO, CANADA Note: Please register early so that meals and events can best be planned. NAME ______IWCS #______Name for Badge ______Spouse/Guest ______Name for Badge ______Address ______Phone # ______Email Address ______ACCOMMODATIONS - There is no lodging at our meeting location; however, there are several accommodation options, as follows. [NOTE: for full accommodation details see the March/April 2014 issue of WoW.] 1) A block of 40 rooms is being held for IWCS members at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites, 100 Howland Drive, Huntsville, Ontario. Make reservations directly with the hotel. 2) Shared accommodation with another member (or two) 40 beds is available (on a fi rst come, fi rst served basis) at the Waterloo Summit Centre for the Environment. Arrange with Robert Ritchie. 3) Other hotels/motels, resorts, B&B, camping/RV, etc., are available. Make own arrangements. MEALS: All meals at the Meeting location (ALS/CSC) will be catered. Please check the meals you will share with members at the ALS/CSC in the table below. Meals include: breakfast at $10.00 CDN (per meal); lunch, which includes two breaks (mid-morning & mid-afternoon) at $20.00 CDN (per meal); and, supper at $25.00 CDN (per meal). The Banquet is $30.00 CDN per person. For the (optional) dinner/cruise on the “RMS Segwun” steamship the cost is $90.00 CDN. [Note: There are many choices of local eating establishments if you wish to go out on your own at any time before, during and after the Meeting.] Tuesday.02 Wed.03 Thurs.04 Friday.05 Sat.06 Sunday.07 Breakfast - $10 Lunch - $20 Dinner - $25 Banquet - $30 N/A N/A N/A N/A Dinner Cruise N/A N/A N/A N/A

Please indicate if you have special dietary needs (i.e. Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten-free, Allergies, etc.) ______Optional (Bus) Tours: We are still working on the two (optional) bus tours, and will present fi nal information on these in the next month or so. 1) North – Bear Chair Co., Highland Brewery (spruce tip beer – Yum, yum!); Swift Canoe Co.; Near North Environmental Education Centre; lunch at Glen Bernard Camp on beautiful Lake Bernard; tour of Hubberts Maple Syrup operation. Possible visit to Bruce Crozier sawmill at Lake Cecebe (part of Magnetawan River system); 2) South – morning -- visit to a large sawmill operation; tour Muskoka Woodworking Co.; lunch at the ALC/CSC; afternoon/evening -- tour Muskoka Rock Company (an amazing sawmill for sawing granite!); etc.; and, dinner cruise on the Muskoka Lakes aboard the RMS Segwun steamship (~$90 CDN). Registration Fee – $60.00 CDN per person. (Early registration deadline: 01.June.2014) $______Late Registration Fee (if rec’d after 01.June.2014) add $20.00 CDN per person. $______Accommodations – option # 2 (above) only $______Meals $______Banquet $______Dinner/Cruise (optional) - $90.00 CDN per person $______Bus Tour # 1 (optional) - to be determined $______Bus Tour # 2 (optional) – to be determined $______Donation to IWCS (optional) for: 1) Endowment Fund; - or- 2) AGM “Sponsor” $______TOTAL $______Return the Registration Form and payment to meeting host, Robert Ritchie, P.O.Box 82, Burk’s Falls, Ontario, Canada, P0A 1C0. Make cheque payable (CDN Dollars please) to “IWCS 2014 AGM” and write “Huntsville AGM” in the memo area. Call Robert Ritchie at xxx or email Robert at xxxxxx with questions. May/June 2014 World of Wood 13 Younger Woodies by Allan Schwindt #8209-L It has been my opinion for some time that IWCS and other wood related groups should be thinking about attracting some younger folks in order to keep our ranks from dwindling too far. It is apparent that the membership of most wood oriented groups is now comprised of senior citizens that will be non-existent in less than a generation. There are probably several reasons why this has happened, a major one being the fact that so many schools have eliminated their “Woodshop Programs” in favor of other subjects. Therefore, very few younger folks are introduced to woodworking or the study of wood. If we don’t want our chosen woodworking activities to die out completely, we need to think outside took over and completed two states. the box a bit. The thing that was so evident to me was how much fun and enthusiasm A few years ago I was asked by our these kids had in working on this local elementary school to participate project. It is obvious to me that in one of their volunteer programs we should be taking a serious look where I could introduce an interesting at ways in which we can introduce subject to one of the early grades. more youngsters to woodworking This is a fairly small school district and to keep them involved until they in one of the last towns on the main can become productive members of access to Mt. St. Helens, Toutle our organizations. Washington, with a population of about 400. Recently, I was again contacted by Toutle Elementary map legend, 2007 the Toutle Elementary School to ask these items and were very enthused After a conference on possible subjects if I’d be willing to present some wood about how they were made. Another we settled on doing something with facts to a kindergarten class. My intriguing display that I left with wood for their 4th grade class. There fi rst reaction was, “will I be able to them for a few weeks was about 40 were 3 classes totaling 50 kids, so I give them any information that their fi nished wood specimens, each listing suggested that we make one of the young minds, (5 & 6 years old) can the common name, scientifi c name North American maps in wood, similar comprehend?” So, I had the teacher and the origin. All of these were very to those made for IWCS in previous stop by to discuss the situation and colorful woods, many from Africa, years. Each student would get to make she was able to convince me that this South America, Asia as well as the US. one State and would be required to would be a worthwhile endeavor. She When I left there were about 7-8 kids gather pertinent information about the explained in some detail how these and the teacher fi nding the location of state. I would do the band saw work kids were discussing various uses of each specimen on a world map. Since and the student would be involved in wood as well as locating on a map the most kids like puzzles I also made for the fi tting and fi nishing of his or her them an “Amish Quilt Puzzle” which piece. When fi nished, the map would origin of various species. So, I put together a program that would attempt be permanently installed in their new to expand on where they are today and library and would include the name promote some real interest in learning of each participant and the state for much more about wood. which he was responsible. A photo of the fi nished map is included above. When I arrived at the kindergarten classroom I met the teacher, (Mrs. This was an especially rewarding Benson) 2 assistants and 23 students. project for me as I was able to spend We fi rst engaged in a discussion about some individual time with each the many uses for wood in which most student. Most of them could not wait of the 23 students participated. They to tell me of a previous experience had this subject quite well covered they had with Dad or Grandpa on with their own personal experiences. another wood related project. Out of We then got into a number of items 50 kids, there was only one that I can that I make from wood including; recall who was not totally enthused pens, lapel pins, bottle stoppers, shoe with the project. That one was more horns, bowls, etc. The students loved into seeing what he could break than fi nishing his state. Another student the hands-on examination of all of Amish Quilt Puzzle 14 World of Wood May/June 2014 includes a frame along with 32 pieces Now I realize full well that old, have your parents call me to make of wood in the shapes of squares, kindergarteners and 4th Grade arrangements to come to my shop to diamonds and triangles. This puzzle students will not immediately boost make something in wood yourself.” can be arranged in literally dozens of the membership of IWCS or any other All of them were more than enthused different patterns with various color woodworking organization but the about that prospect. In fact, one of the variations. When any student comes seed has been planted. Another step boys involved in the map project will up with a new pattern, the teacher has been taken to keep their interest be coming soon to will take a photo and post it with the from fading away. I gave each one make something on student’s name. of them my business card and told the lathe. them, “When you get to be 8 years

A TRIBUTE TO ERNIE IVES #3345-L. by Bob Goddard #5344-L and Ken Southall #2532 Readers will be saddened to hear of excellent DVD "Wood Microtomy" the death of U.K. member Ernie Ives. and the booklet "Marquetry for Being a highly skilled craftsman he As many members will know, Ernie Beginners". won the Marquetry Society's "Rose was a stalwart of both the IWCS Bowl" for best in show, as far back and of the U.K. Marquetry Society He also wrote a complete book on as 1976. Equally adept at knife- for which he was the Editor of its marquetry which although never cutting and fret-sawing he was a keen magazine, "The Marquetarian" for published, had many parts printed in advocate of the latter and actively well over 25 years. The Marquetarian, often in response encouraged its use by his groups of to reader's questions. A number of Ernie’s expertise in the fi eld of wood juniors at the Sproughton Marquetry Ernie's articles have been published Group in his home village near microtomy and for the production of over the years in "World of Wood", Ipswich in the east of England. The high quality section slides was known the most recent being in Volume 66, photo below shows Ernie with his throughout the world and those who Number 5 for September/October Junior Class. knew him would always be impressed 2013. for his relentless quest to fi nd the most With his untimely death we have lost a successful techniques for preparing For many years, Ernie was also Editor wealth of knowledge and experience, many of the diffi cult to section timbers of "The Balsam Post", the magazine of and one of our top marquetarians and prior to sectioning on his treasured the Postal Microscopical Society. microtomists. microtome. His interests were many and varied Our thoughts are He was the author of "A Guide to and his microscopy expertise also with his family at Wood Microtomy" and produced the extended to the production of micro this sad time. slides of insects.

May/June 2014 World of Wood 15 16 World of Wood May/June 2014 May/June 2014 World of Wood 17 Willow-leaf Cotoneaster Nelis Mourik #7460 L Cotoneasters yield many worthy hardy ornamental shrubs, either deciduous or evergreen. Their autumn colors are beautiful. Their wood is hard.

Cotoneaster is also the botanical (~ 2 inches) across, followed by an genus name. The number of species abundance of bright red berries, for in the genus is a continual subject of which this species is mainly valued. discussion, varying between 200 and The genus name Cotoneaster is as many as 400. As no member of this cotoneum genus is native to North America, and after the Latin name ‘ ’ for ‘quince’ (which is the genus Cydonia) only some 7 to Europe, no English aster common name exists, although and ‘ ’ for ‘similar’. The leaves of some species do resemble those of sometimes it is called ‘medlar’ (which quince. The specifi c epithet salicifolius is actually the genus Mespilus). The majority of species is found in China means ‘willow-leaved’. and the Himalaya region; a general Cotoneaster wood is off-white to very common name in Chinese is xun-zi. light brown. Some stems can have Botanically, cotoneasters are closely a slightly darker heart, brownish or allied to Crataegus, the hawthorns, pinkish, especially right after felling. another very diverse genus. They Near the base, stems can be up to are both in the Rosaceae family, 30 cm (~ 12 inches) in diameter, but subfamily Pomoideae. only for a short length. Growth ring Some species are pretty for their boundaries are distinct, due to slight fl owers, which are white to rose- semi ring porosity, although this can tinted and very uniform all through vary with growth conditions. Vessels the genus. Their greatest attraction are small (40 µm down to 10 µm). however is their fruiting in berries Despite ring porosity, vessels are bright colors, varying from yellow, quite evenly distributed. Parenchyma orange, red or black. is apotracheal, generally diffuse, not visible when using a hand lens. Longitudinal surface of a Cotoneaster Specifi cally the willow-leaved Rays are very narrow, 1 - 2 cells salicifolius heartwood specimen. cotoneaster (C. salicifolius Franch.), wide and lower than 0.5 mm, slightly on which this description is based, is heterogeneous with 1 row of square small items like turnings and perhaps named liu-ye-xun-zi in transcribed to upright marginal cells, sometimes 2 small furniture. The shrubs are mainly Chinese (pin yin). It is a large or 3. Ground tissue consists of thick- planted for the beauty of their berries, spreading shrub up to 5 m (~16 feet) walled fi ber tracheids. attracting birds during winter. high (nearly the highest in the genus) with straight stems and branches. The wood of cotoneaster is quite hard and quite heavy (density around Leaves are 6 - 9 cm (2- 4 in.) long and 3 1 - 2 cm (⅜ – ¾ inch) wide. Flowers 800 kg/m , or 50 lb/cu. ft., airdry), fi ne textured and usually straight, are formed in woolly corymbs, 5 cm sometimes wavy grained. It dries without diffi culty if cut over the pith and into slabs at diameters larger than about 10 cm (~ 4 inches), and end-sealed. It exhibits only little deformation and end cracks. The wood cuts easily, wet as well as dry. Planing can cause breaking out of the surface where grain is not straight. It glues well and can be sanded to a smooth surface, often with a quite vivid fi gure. The wood is of a poor durability and is sensitive to wood borers as well as fungi. This wood is not used. Wood of the Lens view of Cotoneaster salicifolius wood larger cotoneasters can be used for Transverse section of an about 4 cm wide stem end grain. of Cotoneaster salicifolius with reddish heart. 18 World of Wood May/June 2014 Pearlbush Nelis Mourik #7460 L Only few shrubs have wood as hard, as heavy and as dark as this one. The botanical genus name of pearlbush epithet racemosa means ‘with fl owers is Exochorda. Traditionally, this genus in racemes’. It is called pearlbush has 4 or 5 accepted species, but a because the buds resemble white serious systematic study concluded pearls. that these species are all closely related and probably descended from Pearlbushes yield heartwood that a single species due to geographical is dark reddish to purplish brown, fragmentation. In that case the single clearly, but not abruptly demarcated species name is Exochorda racemosa from the very light brown to creamy (Lindl.) Rehder, while the former sapwood. Stems seldom exceed 10 other species are all reduced to the cm (~ 4 inches) in diameter. Growth status of subspecies. Exochorda is in rings are distinct. The wood is ring- the Rosaceae family. Traditionally, porous to semi ring-porous with one Exochorda was in the Spiraeoideae row of relatively large earlywood subfamily. Recently however it has vessels. Tangential vessel diameter been moved into the Prunoideae of the earlywood vessels is 25 - 60 subfamily (which should be named µm, that of the latewood vessels is 15 Amygdaloideae nowadays – see Wow, - 35 µm. Parenchyma is apotracheal Jan/Feb, 2014, p. 20). One motive for diffuse, diffuse in aggregates and this move was that wood anatomically scanty paratracheal. Rays are of two Exochorda is aberrant in Spiraeoideae different types. Narrow and low ones while rather similar to Prunoideae. are 1 (- 2) seriate and to 6 (- 14) cells Actually, the genus does not fi t in any high, consisting of square cells only. of the Rosaceae subfamilies; hence Wide and tall ones are 3 (- 5) seriate Exochordeae should be the solution. and to 500 (- 750) µm high, consisting of procumbent body cells and 1 - 4 The genus is native to China only. square to upright marginal cells. They are bushy shrubs up to 3 - 4.5 Ground tissue consists of very thick- m (~10-15 feet) high with long walled fi ber tracheids. Longitudinal surface of a glued-up Exochorda arching branches, festooned with racemosa subsp. korolkowii wood specimen. conspicuous racemes of quite large, The wood of pearlbush is very hard white, 5-petaled fl owers appearing in and very heavy (density 1200 - 1250 on the lathe like earrings, pendants, kg/m3, or 75-78 lb/cu. ft., airdry). It is beads or even imitation pearls for their April and May. Leaves are alternate, very fi ne textured and usually wavy exotic color or color contrast. narrowly obovate. grained because of an abundance The genus name Exochorda is after of small (and a few large) knots all the Greek ‘exo’ meaning ‘outside’ over the wood. It has to be dried with and ‘chorde’ meaning ‘chord’ or care, cut over the pith and end-sealed. ‘string’, referring to a string attached Deformation and cracks turn out better to the outside the ovary. The specifi c than one should expect, possibly because the drying is a quite slow process. Shrinkage is considerable. The wood is hard to work with because of its hardness and small dimensions. The saw blade must be sharp, then it cuts well, but planing is risky because of breaking out near the small knots. It is best only cut and sand this wood. It glues well, but has to be clamped suffi ciently long. It can be sanded to a very smooth surface; a dull sander band however will burn the wood. Possibly, the heartwood is quite durable. This shrub is planted for its fl owers. Lens view of the end grain of Exochorda Transverse section of an about 4 cm wide racemosa subsp. korolkowii. The wood is not used, regrettably Exochorda racemosa. because it could make fi ne jewellery stem of May/June 2014 World of Wood 19 Growth Rings 37: The IWCS Record - reprinted from 50 years ago by Ken Bassett #543

Wood from the “Hidden Forest” should make an interesting addition to any collection or to many craft projects. The species might be the same but the appearance and many of the characteristics would be different. Bog oak heads the list but there appear to be many other species equally transformed. The rich browns into the total blacks are striking. These bog transformed and preserved woods seem to be unique to Northern Europe. I am not aware of anything similar in North America although we have plenty of bogs. It may be the conditions are not right or perhaps they just have not been discovered yet. When this article was written our publication did not have many pictures and certainly none in color. I found a whole gallery of color pictures of bog oak samples, smoking pipes, carvings, turnings and the like on Google. They are defi nitely worth a look. I do not know if any of our members offer samples but pieces of bog oak are readily available on line. A note about the referenced “steaks and gravy”: The IWCS founder, Harold Nogle, used to entertain IWCS gatherings at his place in Texas where the standard fare was steaks and gravy. This article was written by long time IWCS member and author Richard Crow of the UK. It fi rst appeared in the June, 1964 issue of the Wood Collectors Society Bulletin. Hidden Forests by Richard Crow #595E If any of you “wood-nuts’” fancy weirs, drains and banks, mostly below rot must have water and oxygen dragging yourselves away from steaks sea level. to survive. Botanists fi nd the types of and gravy over there, and perhaps species unearthed most interesting. plan a visit to Europe, do put on your But even if they’ve tamed the fens Now the predominant tree is elm with itinerary a trip, to’ the peat-bog forests on the surface there’s plenty left some willow and elder but among of England, Ireland or Scandinavia - underground to show how things the buried woods, elm is not found even though you may not see a single were in wild nature. The fens are and by far the majority is oak. Pinus standing tree there. almost treeless, occasional elms line sylvestris, which is found in more the fi elds but usually the fl at view is recent deposits is now considered Peat is formed of compressed, uninterrupted for miles. But ask any extinct as a spontaneous native tree incompletely decomposed vegetable fen farmer whether he has done any in England except possibly in Surrey, matter saturated in water and often tree felling lately. He’ll soon surprise and yew (Taxus baccata) certainly is buried beneath a top layer of black you. Ten to one the farmer will take not found in the area or in the type earth or marshy or even’ swampy you over to a newly ploughed fi eld of conditions prevailing. It prefers grass. Very often it is many feet deep or a newly dredged drain and show chalky hills so why did it grow here? and has been formed over thousands you a heap of roots and trunks big Was the climate colder, bringing hill of years. It has been made use of for enough to fi ll a hundred lorries. This, species down to lower levels? Surely centuries both as a fuel (the ‘turf’ his “woodyard”, is his crop from not in such recent times. The perfectly of Ireland) and as a very rich acid underneath the soil – the remains of preserved wood gives no indication compost to fertilise the small back trees growing perhaps 7,000 years ago. of any difference in growth rate; garden and the huge horticultural in fact you might have diffi culty in estate. This is not fossil wood but trunks, persuading anyone that it was once branches and roots which once grew buried wood. In England the Biggest area of peat where they now lie and have been is in fenland which is a largely perfectly preserved over all this time. Pine is found in profusion in Wood reclaimed, aggressively fl at area Much of the old swamps were what is Fen, near Ely, Cambs. where it is the forming parts of Norfolk, Lincolnshire called oscillatory; that is they changed major species. It is buried up to six and Cambridgeshire. A second smaller from being overrun by the sea to being feet down and is considered to be area of similar country is found in lifted up to almost dry land and during 3,000 years old. When I went there Somerset. these times trees fl ourished - oak, some fi ve years ago there was a huge birch, willow, yew, pine and alder – all pile of polished shattered trunks and The Romans must have found the the same as present day species. Then limbs, some of them seventy feet long, present day fens an oozing, smelling back came the sea to claim the land dredged from the drains by the sides of quagmire; some ‘underwater, some again and either quickly or slowly the fi elds. It looked like some Belsen just passable on foot. This has been it eroded and undermined the trees graveyard for trees. The sapwood was proved to have been its condition for bringing them crashing down into the indistinguishable from the heartwood thousands of years. It doesn’t pay sludgy peat below, which promptly if there was any at all, and the wood to underestimate the Romans: their surrounded and covered the trunks. was deeply impregnated with a powers of organization and ingenuity It is fascinating to fi nd that often the rancid-smelling mixture of water and must surely be unrivalled. They trees all fell in the same direction and resin which still continues to ooze certainly made some impression on they lie like fallen soldiers in orderly out of samples I got at that time. Yew the treacherous marshes in their three rows. Either there was a predominant sapwood has disappeared too but hundred years’ occupation of Britain. strong wind or else the sea must have otherwise internally it is identical to But a thousand years later King John, very slowly eaten its way into one side present day wood except for being trying to cross the “Wash” sank into of the base so that it brought each tree more purple than the usual brick the bog and lost all his riches and down as if to order. color. The outside is pitted with small nearly his life. cubes of decay just like any rotten Gradually the sea must have receded fence post. Willow is found in smaller Since then continued attempts have and the land dried out again. Back pieces, probably because it is less been made to drain the fens, often came, the vegetation and more leaves durable. It is stained very dark brown under Dutch supervision; and now fell to form more peat which covered and is saturated to such a degree that it the fens form the richest agricultural over the fallen trunks. This helped to shrinks almost to nothing when dried area in England drained by dykes and seal off the remains from the air; for out. 20 World of Wood May/June 2014 But the bog oak is the most interesting a normally impervious heartwood. whose respect for the sea is as great wood and it is the most commonly But this loss does not seem to affect as most farmers’ fear of the weather. found. It is usually buried deeper than the characteristics of the wood. In He swears by bog oak and yew for the other woods and is thought to be seasoning the wood the usual degrade gate posts and fences, and shortage of 7,000 years old. If you’ve put up an takes place, strength seems unaffected supply never troubles him - he swears oak gate post and driven steelwork and the workability is the same as about that too. into it you will have noticed the black ever. The characteristic oak smell is staining that comes around the steel - however more musty. Vast quantities of’ bog oak are found this is a reaction between the iron, the in Ireland and Scandinavia, and in weather and the enormous quantities Such an attractive freak, as you would all the great peat bogs antlers, sea of tannin in oak. Imagine what must imagine, has always brought a demand shells, animal bones and even ancient happen when there are thousands of from those few who know about it and ships are found. Recently a track of years of contact between iron in peat near the centres of its occurrence it has cleft alder baulks, laid across the old and tannin in oak. When the trees are been used in public buildings, manor marsh three thousand years ago, was lifted out they are found to be pitch houses and inns for its interest and dug up from the peat in Somerset, black right through. Seeing the old beauty value. However only a small some six feet below ground level. I warriors lying there you would think proportion is available in large sizes was lucky enough to secure a piece they had been burnt. Their blackened and the majority of what is used is for actually bearing the marks of a “cubed” surfaces are often coated souvenirs and turned articles such as cleaving instrument used by primitive with dried salt from some ancient sea, our more gifted craftsmen members carpenters. which looks just like wood ash; but cut have perfected. Some bowls of this into this “burnt” stump and you’ll fi nd wood always used to be for sale in Just in case you should want one I had something very different. Apart from one of the major London stores. But better tell you I haven’t ‘ any spare the very distinctive ebony colour the bog oak has never been more than samples of the bog woods - if you wood seems much the same as present sketchily known and spasmodically want one you had better come and day oak but microscopic examination used. I suppose it is because it is found start digging. apparently reveals that whilst the so far from where wood is .normally lignin is intact the cellulose has slowly harvested. However one dedicated decomposed which may account and constant user of the wood is for such a complete permeation of the fen farmer, an independent man

Araucarioxylon going extinct? by Paul van Rijckevorsel #8060L Fossil wood has been found in great (after a Greek word for wood), and make it worth protecting. There are quantities; it is one of the most starting with the name of a genus (that three other names that also have been common fossils, as wood is among they somewhat resemble), leading widely used, namely Agathoxylon, the most durable parts of a plant. to a name like Cupressoxylon, or the Dadoxylon and Dammaroxylon. Of The most noticeable fossil woods are name of a person (like a wood scientist these, Dadoxylon has been mostly those that have been petrifi ed and who worked on a particular group of used for fossils of a particular era, the that can be made into quite showy plants), as in Baasoxylon (after prof. Palaeozoic, not for a group of fossils discs (of course, it is not a necessary Baas), but note that Baileyoxylon is that are otherwise all that distinct. Of characteristic of fossil woods to have a regular name for an extant plant. A these four names, there is no candidate been petrifi ed and not all petrifi ed name like Araucarioxylon indicates that, in itself, has all that great support. woods are much to look at). Probably some anatomical likeness with Instead, the general feeling seems to the most famous petrifi ed fossil wood Araucaria but does not necessarily be to just use the name that should be goes by the name of Araucarioxylon mean that there is a close relationship used under the rules, namely the oldest arizonicum; it has been adopted as the or any real relationship at all. one. This would be Agathoxylon, state fossil of Arizona. Often it is just a name attached for and this is likely to be going to be Araucarioxylon convenience. used in the future, even although The name is that many new species names would of a fossil-genus. In itself, this What may happen is that this Araucarioxylon have to be published (to shift from phenomenon of a “fossil-genus” name is going to Araucarioxylon to Agathoxylon). is a quite new one. It replaces the be abandoned. It has been known “morphogenus” (in use for about a for quite a while that this name The poll also asked the question if decade), which in turn replaced the Araucarioxylon is not entirely in the fossil wood specialists would be “form-genus” (even earlier the term accord with the rules and could in favour of having separate genera “organ-genus” was in use side by only be continued to be used if it for somewhat different woods, or if side with “form-genus”). All these were nomenclaturally protected everything should be lumped together refl ect attempts to deal with the special (“conserved”), but nobody seems in a single genus. The majority favored characteristics of this kind of fossils. eager to do this. Rather than make lumping. So the likelihood seems If all that is available is a bit of fossil a proposal to protect the name to be that, over the coming years wood, without leaves, fl owers, fruits, Araucarioxylon, an inventory has (or decades), all the Araucarioxylon etc, any taxonomic assessment is an been made among fossil wood woods will be undergoing a name uncertain one. Such fossils usually scientists to see what they would change to Agathoxylon. And that the get a scientifi c name by themselves prefer. The result proves to be that it name Araucarioxylon is (that is, not taking into account the is acknowledged that Araucarioxylon going to disappear. unknown other parts of the plant), is probably the best-known name, typically a name ending in -xylon but not by a margin big enough to May/June 2014 World of Wood 21 Australian Wood No 60 Elaeocarpus ruminatus by Morris Lake #7634 Brown quandong Derivation: Elaeocarpus from elaia (olive), and carpus (fruited), referring to the similarities of the fruit to that of the olive. Ruminatus from the Latin rumen, referring to the endocarp surface being reticulated and pierced in various directions by narrow cavities. Family: Elaeocarpaceae has 10-12 genera with 350-400 species, mostly tropical, worldwide, except Africa. Of these, Australia has six genera with about 44 species. Elaeocarpus has 60 species with 31 in Australia. Twenty-four species in tropical Queensland, so it is distributed to the north into the tropics. Other names: Caloon, and white or grey quandong. Distribution: It grows from the Windsor Tablelands of far north Queensland to Eungella Range west of Mackay in north Queensland. It generally grows from 200-1,150 metres (~650- 3,800 ft.) altitude. The tree: An attractive small tree, sometimes growing to 30 metres (~100 ft.) and a trunk diameter of 0.5 metres (20 inches). There are generally a few red leaves in the canopy as well and both the downy white fringed bell-like fl owers and the blue fruit, which are quite ornamental. The trunk is usually straight and cylindrical, often buttressed. The bark is brown or grey, smooth, longitudinally wrinkled with vertical cracks and brown coloured pustules. The underbark is cream to light brown. The blaze is yellowish brown with a few crooked yellow stripes which darken on exposure, but the remainder tends to fade. Very young shoots and fl ower stems are clothed in silky hairs. Leaves are alternate, simple, not deeply toothed, elliptical, and drawn down to a fi ne point and are often crowded towards the ends of branchlets. They are green on both surfaces, but paler beneath, strongly net-veined on both surfaces, and the margins are toothed. The white or occasionally pink fl owers are licorice scented, bell-shaped, with long fringed stamens and are on slender racemes arising from the leaf axils, and like the leaves, tend to be crowded towards the ends of the branchlets. The fruit are shy blue, round, and with white fl esh enclosing a single hard stone with a rough and pimpled and wrinkled surface. The fruit appear almost all year round and are eaten by crimson rosellas, fi gbirds, olive-backed oriole, regent bowerbirds, womga pigeons and white-headed pigeons.

Wood of Elaeocarpus ruminatus In small trees the wood tends to be creamy white throughout, but larger trees usually have a core of attractive brown heartwood, surrounded by a band of whiter sapwood. Texture is moderately fi ne and even and the grain is often interlocked. It has a medium hardness and an air dry density at 12% moisture of 560 kg/m3 (~35 lb/cu ft). The wood is easy to work and glues well. It makes attractive turnings, inlays and the like. It is suitable for cabinet work, boat planking and racing sculls. It is not readily available in quantity.

22 World of Wood May/June 2014 Australian Woods No 61 and 62 Endiandra sankeyana, Sankey’swalnut Endiandra sieberi, Pink walnut by Morris Lake #7634

Derivation: Endiandra from the Greek endon (within), and andros (a man), alluding to the inner series of stamens being the fertile ones. Sankeyana after J. R. Sankey. Sieberi after F. W. Sieber, a botanical collector of Prague Bohemia — now Czech Republic — who spent seven months collecting plants in New South Wales in 1823, including the type specimen. Family: Lauraceae has 50-55 genera and 3,000 species worldwide. Most of the genera in Australia are in the subtropics, however, of the eleven Endiandra in Australia these are rainforest species. Other names: Sankey’s walnut has no other common name. However, pink walnut is also known as corkbark, corkwood, hard cheesewood, coach walnut and Tooram walnut. Distribution: Sankey’s walnut grows in rainforests from Cedar Bay National Park to Ingham in North Queensland. Pink walnut grows from Kioloa, New South Wales to Maryborough in Queensland. It’s a common tree on poor sedimentary soil in coastal and inland rainforests. The latter is also found in littoral rainforest on deep sand where it can survive periodic fi res because of its thick corky bark. The tree: Both grow to 30 metres (~ 90 feet) with a stem diameter of 0.9 metres (~ 3 feet). The trunk is normally straight and cylindrical and that of Sankey’s is buttressed. Pink walnut however has bark that is soft, grey and corky, fi nely fi ssured in Young Sankey’s walnut tree. young trees but the surface is rougher and scalier in mature trees. Trunk of pink walnut on the right. Sankey’s walnut on the left. The blaze is deep red becoming paler towards the sapwood, faintly fragrant, darkening within a few minutes of exposure. The branchlets are red, smooth and slender on pink walnut. The leaves are simple, alternate and the upper side can be hairy or without hairs, however the underside of the leaf is covered in fi ne white or pale brown hairs with oil dots visible. Leaves on pink walnut are drawn out to a blunt point at the tip. Pink walnut has pinkish cream to yellowish fl owers, whereas Sankey’s white, yellow or brownish fl owers are found on panicles and can be fragrant or unpleasantly scented. The drupe shaped fruit are blue-black or black, shiny, and purplish for pink walnut. When cut, the fl esh smells of cologne and contains one apricot or orange, or dirty yellow-orange coloured seed. The fruit are eaten by cassowaries, musky rat-kangaroos and bush rats, topknot pigeons and white-headed pigeons.

Wood of Endiandra sankeyana and Endiandra sieberi Wood is light coloured pinkish-brown with variations in colour. Wood of E. sieberi is shown on the right. It’s hard, and close-grained. Wood of Sankey’s walnut has an air dry density at 12% moisture of 755 kg/m3 (~ 47 lb/cu. ft.) while pink walnut is lighter with an air dry density at 12% moisture of 720 kg/ m3 (~ 45 lb/cu. ft.). Both species are suitable for handles, fl ooring, lining and cabinet making.

May/June 2014 World of Wood 23 Member’s Listings and Requests Members with wood specimens and books for sale I am interested in doing some swaps. I Timber Poster (on page 25) have 2,200 specimens 60 x 6 x 90 mm of Over 1,000 different wood specimens all sorts of imported and home-grown from around the world. Over one-third Art poster of some of the world’smost woody plants. are specially fi gured like blistered, curly, beautiful timbers. Specimens are labelled Lionel Daniels #6509 fi ddle back,quilted, birds eye, mottled, with scientifi c name, common name, and burled and over 200 species from country of origin. Limited Edition: 500 Vietnam. Individually numbered and signed by Réjean Drouin #3589 Vince Manna. Poster size: 560 mm x 841 mm ( 22’x 33’). Full colour print on 170 gsm gloss 600-plus different kinds of wood art paper. Cost: $45.00 AUD ea. (Includes: Postage specimens precisely crafted and labeled, I often have very rare, sometimes even and packing within Australia). (A little most identifi ed from trees in the forest. once-in-a-lifetime samples available extra international fee applies depending I have woods from the USA, Mexico, from botanical gardens, stock from old where it needs to go). Brazil, Japan, Australia, and others. tropical institutes and own import. From Contact me for a list. some species I am the only supplier of A framed timber poster may be displayed Alan B. Curtis #1132 HL on an open wall space in your living wood samples in the world. My list is room as a colourful photographic very interesting for the advanced wood abstract to compliment an existing collector.Please contact me for a list. furniture item, or as a decorative wall I provide wood specimens from around Henk Bakker #6966 L hanging to decorate your woodworking the globe, accurately dimensioned, nicely environment. sanded and labeled. I maintain a mailing list and send notifi cation when new Grain Design Poster - on archival specimens become available. photographic paper.Art Poster of some Contact me for a list. of the world’smost beautiful timbers are Gary Green #6654L Have logs, planks & whatnot. Must also available and made on archival photographic paper. sell off. Some pretty rare: leadwood, Cost $120.00 S. African red ivory logs and planks, (Includes Postage and packing within I have a good range of more than 400 snakewood logs, one ebony log from Australia) For international orders species of Australian rainforest and Belgian Congo, etc. Will send list. Link to additional shipping costs apply. Black outback woods in specimen size or wood collection for sale is: xxx timber frames and white matte mount Dennis Brett #257 Not Included as egg blanks. I will also cut to your For further information contact: requirements Vince Manna Colin Martin #7189 +61 (0)423 765 171 Email:[email protected] Back Issues of World of Wood www.vincemanna.com I can buy, sell and trade back issues of I am collaborating with two of China’s the magazine. Get the missing issues you leading wood anatomists in assembling need at $2 each, and less by the year a collection for research purposes. To or by the decade. Half of all proceeds this end we are buying specimens or go to the IWCS endowment fund. Issues entire collections. Exchanges may be available from 1948 on, free shipping in possible. the USA. David Clark #9808 Richard Kuehndorf #8593

Phone: 1-866-RAREWOOD I have two or more specimens of more than 700 to 800 different woods from around the world in my stock. I would like to exchange or sell. They are standard or another sizes. Contact me for my list. New book written by IWCS member Dieter Becker #6362 #9392 Cheek Sangalang Fadriquela, Kahoy:Wood in the Philippines Vol. African Wood Specimens: Contact me 1 –Wood and Its Uses fromPre-Hispanic for list of African species available. All to Spanish Colonial Philippines.Vol. woods from environmentally approved 2Vol. 2 – Lexicon ofWood Terms sources. from16th to 19th Century Sources. Barry James #9380 2013,Manila: UST Publishing House. Available fromMaryMartin Booksellers http://www.marymartin.com/

24 World of Wood May/June 2014 Timber Poster - by timber craftsman, adventurer and photographer Vince Manna #4713 The love of woodwork and The species presented in this photography was born out of a timber poster abstract include: teenage passion for astronomy, crocodilewood (Zanthoxylum which saw me construct my rhetsa), black-and-white ebony own telescopes and tripods. This (Diospyros sp.), birdseye tulipwood passion triggered a keen interest (Dalbergia decipularis), conkerberry in woodworking and wood (Carissa spinarum) wood, pink collecting. The lesser-known and fl ame wood (Rinorea paniculata) geographically remote exotic species and more.The natural timber image became a particular obsession to abstracts have evolved during obtain - even a single specimen. I my extensive travels. Seeing the have traveled to many countries and stunning vivid colours of the natural trekked into some of the world’s environment and the refl ected most rugged landscapes including patterns of the trees and mountains Africa, South America and the in water were the inspiration I depths of the Amazon rainforest drew from. I am pleased to make in my search for the world’s most available these visions and beautiful beautiful timbers. timbers by presenting them on this art form timber poster. Please I have spent a considerable part note that all timbers used in the of my life in the rainforests of timber art posters and abstracts are the world sharing my extensive images taken from actual natural woodworking knowledge with timber sections of the specimens the indigenous people, often collected. The timbers display their undertaking community projects, true striking vivid colours, hues whilst learning about their and grain patterns before being fascinating cultures, the common transformed into decorative art uses and knowledge of their native prints. Please see previous page for woods and tree species. My passion the ad. and determination have enabled me to accumulate over 8,500 scientifi cally identifi ed species.

Giant baobabs, (Adansonia grandidieri) amongst the night starry sky in - Allée des Baobabs, Morondava, Madagascar. The rich deep red colours of the trunks are as a result of the reflection of the red rising full moon just above the horizon late in the evening. The red glow was plentiful in long photographic exposures to capture the startling red tree trunks yet not bright enough to diminish the Milky Way and starry sky backdrop with a meteorite in October 2013. May/June 2014 World of Wood 25 Conclusion of :An intrusion into my birdseye nest. Part I: Domestic species by Réjean Drouin #3589 Don C. Bragg in a paper dated 19991 pointed out that such commercial of a cat. Cat’s paw is similar to round described many types of birdseye birdseye in around 1% of harvested eye in other respects, including unpre- fi gures. Let’s discuss them. He sugar maple volume can double the dictable distribution within the xylem described different fi gures related fi nancial returns to the landowner. and the size of individual dimples. to indented growth rings according Fingernail fi gure in sugar maple can Distorted birdseye would be an ad- to physical structure: dimples, bear be thumbnail or acicular. Thumbnail, vanced stage of round eye, but with a scratches, cat’s paw, birdseye. He also called long eye, is comparable more indefi nite shape and being usually concentrates his attention on fi gures to bear scratches or indented rings larger (2-4-fold) in size than round eye. in maple trees. The birdseye fi gure in in longleaf pine. Linear fi ngernail Bragg added that the distorted form is sugar maple may vary substantially birdseye is most similar to round eye most frequent in sugar maples that have and conical indentations may be in form and distribution across the bole produced birdseye for many years and applied to many unrelated fi gures surface. Linear dimples are straight may indicate some loss of structural or morphological forms and size to and elongated several times more control as the eye aged. birdseye. Bragg’s terminology of the than their tangential width (3-10 mm). Many authors suggested that birdseye morphological variation in birdseye Identifi cation is rendered more diffi cult 2 formation in sugar maple (whatever appearance starts with the traditional because its longitudinal orientation the fi gure) was a response to adverse round eye and its variations, two types follows normal grain alignment, local environmental conditions, pri- of fi ngernail: linear and acicular; cat’s hence masking the expression of the marily because of paucity (scarcity) paw, distorted and round cavities form. The vestigial pattern prevents of birdseye in vigorous sugar maples3. (gelasini, Latin for dimple) in bands or fi ngernails commercial viability. Bragg However, Bragg mentioned that these horizontal rows. described in the same tree a round eye stressful conditions are still diffi cult Bragg mentioned that some of these dimple in outer bark tissues and only to defi ne. Recent studies indicate that fi gures might be different development fi ngernails in the wood suggesting a birdseye is no more common in poor stages of the same phenomenon, as relationship between the two forms. quality stems than in vigorous ones. In similarities with their co-occurrence on Black cherry develops a fi ngernail like northern Michigan and Wisconsin, bird- the same bole have been reported. defect (see Fig. 3). seye maple arose more frequently than Round eye is the classical form of Acicular (‘needle-like’) fi ngernail bird- previously reported (an average of 13% birdseye. It appears as circular to seye is an extremely elongated version in managed forest approaching the 50% somewhat elliptical cavity (dimple) of linear fi ngernail distinguishable by in their old growth sugar maple stands). scattered throughout wood and bark. the irregular length among individual Empirical links between a complex Round eye has a diameter of 1-10 mm. dimples and greatly exaggerated elonga- local environment and the tendency Round eye protuberances (elatum) tion, often many centimetres in length. to develop birdseye are inconsistent are proportional in depth to their This fi gure is also less abundant than and sometimes contradictory. Bragg width. They are also more regular the linear type. Sometimes it develops a supported the notion of some degree in appearance than other forms of highly wavy pattern, maybe as a result of local environmental infl uence more birdseye in sugar maple. Round eye (as of a fusion between acicular fi ngernail than genetics or purely random in- seen in most photos in Part I) can also and wavy grain. ception or start. Bragg (1995) found be found in other domestic species but Bragg mentioned that fi ngernail evidence of birdseye in all the range scarcity and poor quality of birdseye of the species occasionally at levels and round eye can be found in close comparable with those in the northern in these species has relegated them to proximity in a single tree. There are curiosity status. In some trees, round Lake States. Couple this broad distribu- enough differences between those tion with elevated birdseye maple oc- eye birdseye runs throughout the bole two forms according to Bragg to including the phloem and the outer indicate a defi nite bifurcation in their currence in pockets of old growth, and bark. When a section of bark or wood development. If fi ngernail starts as you may have a phenomenon explained by a particular localized environment, is split tangentially from the stem, a round eye and then progresses into complementary knob of tissue, the fi ngernail, an additional mechanism a combination of physical and (or) conical male protuberance is produced genetic factors, or a generic response obviously exists to extend the to any of a number of extrinsic condi- from the bark and each cone fi ts in vestigium longitudinally. As many a complementary dimple (see Fig. 1 tions. Birdseye in sugar maple appears types coexist, Bragg is inclined to think in every area where this species grows. on p. 28, birdseye elatum, and Fig. 2, more about intermixing types than birdseye dimple counterpart). Generally it becomes rarer with the loss compartmentalizing ones, suggesting a of old growth northern hardwood stands. Bragg et al. (1997) found that birdseye link between initiation and propagation (primarily round eye) can develop processes. Conclusions in more than 50% of the sugar Cat’s paw and distorted are the rar- To date, no conclusive study has shown maple in some old-growth stands est of all birdseye types. Those fi gures a link between birdseye maple and while they can be absent from other could be related to round eye sug- competition. A better understanding locations, especially managed stands. gesting a modifi cation of round eye of the conditions that initiate and Commercial-quality round eye rarely development. Cat’s paw is a cluster propagate the birdseye grain needs exceeds 5% of sugar maples in most of multiple round to elliptical dimples developmental anatomy studies stands and is even less frequent in (usually more than three), close to each (Bragg 1994, 1997; Rioux et al. 1997). managed forests. However, they also other so that they resemble a paw print Knowing what processes are involved 1. Bragg, D.C. 1999. The birdseye fi gured grain in sugar maple (Acer saccharum): literature review,nomenclature, and structural characteristics. Can. J. For.Res. 29: 1637-1648. & references to Bragg therein 26 World of Wood May/June 2014 in the production of birdseye should for its initiation. It would be a great normal sugar maples, thereby ensuring help uncover possible environmental achievement if one day one could fi nd a continued supply of this unique or genetic components responsible a way to induce its development in product. An intrusion into my birdseye nest. Part II: New discoveries in the formation of birdseye structure (with photos of birdseye in domestic and exotic species) by Réjean Drouin #3589 According to Bragg1, birdseye is a dis- zones of indented growth rings of Sitka Wisconsin), looking at segregate distri- turbance in the normal grain pattern of spruce. Grossner (1986) theorized that bution in old growth versus managed. some species of trees and shrubs. The trabeculae could appear during the The only fi ndings were that there was structure of birdseye cells goes oblique- development of «special» cell types. higher birdseye volume in old growth ly instead of axially on the radial view. But birdseye represents an aggregation sugar maple stands but no difference in Rays in the birdseye structure are also and reorientation of normal tissues, not local density within stand type. If com- more numerous, shorter and narrower a special cell. Trabeculae may arise as petition might be an important factor than rays in normal wood. Rioux et al. a response to cambial damage, which, triggering birdseye formation (USDA 20033 found the large rays and ves- as has been suggested, may trigger Forest Service 1929, Holmberg 1933, sels in bird eye to be barely discernible birdseye formation (Rioux et al; Desch Mroz et al. 1990), a more extensive when compared with adjacent «nor- 1968), but since trabeculae are not al- investigation has not supported this mal» xylem. They also often noticed ways associated with birdseye, it should conclusion (Bragg et al. 1997). Howev- that cells near the center of each inden- be considered as a coincidentally er, a fi eld guide for localizing birdseye tation are collapsed and are associated occurring structure rather than directly produced in Quebec reported that the with hypertrophied cells with thicker responsible for birdseye formation. fi gure seems more frequent in sugar than normal walls. It does not affect the Viruses. The presence of viruses can- maple growing on marginal sites (e.g., tree, but may affect woodworking. not be completely ruled out because on hills, steep slopes or thin soils) (Les- sard et al. 1996)5 . In addition, in Rioux The birdseye structure arises from an these can at times have forms hardly 3 abnormal growth pattern in the cam- recognizable, even in electron micros- et al. , the last growth rings measured bium, possibly through the suppres- copy (Agrios 1997). Crystalloid bodies in the sugar maple sampled had a width sion of cambial divisions over several reminiscent of virus particles occasion- usually much less than 1.5 mm, a sign consecutive years (Conrad 1971; Beals ally occurred in phloem. Wood pitting, that these trees were not vigorous. and Davis 1977). Indentation is usually another unusual fi gure in many Citrus Bragg et al. (1997) postulated that the distinguishable in several growth rings spp., could be caused by viruses. Wood trigger for birdseye initiation may arise but may begin and end abruptly. pitting shows similarities with birdseye from any of a number of environmental Debated mechanisms underlying fi gures, the depressions seen on the factors or from a combination of these birdseye formation in sugar maple wood surface also corresponding to factors so that even if a sugar maple is 1) Infl uence of micro-organisms conical elevations protruding from the predisposed to develop birdseye, it may inner bark. never develop the fi gured grain unless Fungi. Many authors ascribed birdseye 2) A combination of environmental certain environmental factors were formation to localized deactivation factors favourable. It would take environmen- of the cambium by fungi. The fungal tal and genetic testing on mature trees theory arose from comments by J.D. In 1933, Holmberg determined that to evaluate both controls on birdseye Hale (1923) in Science associating a birdseye sugar maple grew in diam- formation. It would make genetics an cellular substructure (the trabeculae of eter at a slower pace than other sugar active fi eld of research because of the Sanio4) with a thin fi lament of fungal maple during the tree’s fi rst century recognized infl uence it has on other hyphae (branching fi lament structure of of life. He attributed this to competi- fi gured grains. Knowing what processes a fungus). Hale then proceeded to link tion. Although a very limited sampling trigger the production of birdseye trabeculae with several wood abnor- and small sample size weakened his should help uncover possible environ- malities, including birdseye, indented argument, the competition theory had mental or genetic components respon- growth rings, and abnormally large remained the prevailing view for over sible for its initiation. 60 years. In 1990, Mroz et al. re-used horizontal resin ducts. The trabeculae’s Four examples of attractive birdseye supposed role in birdseye formation this theory but this time in the context of local stand density and competition fi gure in exotic species are shown on has not been experimentally substanti- the next page. ated. Stokke has not detected trabecu- between birdseye and non birdseye sugar maple. They then found evidence lae in his study of birdseye structures, Acknowledgements while Rioux et al. found no evidence of the involvement of soil properties of pathogenic microorganisms in their during wood differentiation. In the A special thanks to Mr. Danny Rioux of microscopy work on a birdseye maple end, relationship between density and Ressources naturelles Canada for the revi- sample. Trabeculae (small beams) birdseye formation remains question- sion of the text. inside cells of the xylem (wood) ap- able. Bragg et al. (1997) did a more pear more commonly in the marginal extensive study (northern Michigan and .. to be continued in the next issue

2. The reader will fi nd that this paper is far from explaining the formation of the different fi gures. 3. Rioux, D., Yamada, T., Simard, M., Lessard, G., Rheault, F.J., and Blouin, D. 2003. Contribution to the fi ne anatomy and histochemistry of birdseye sugar maple. Can. J. For.Res. 33: 946-958. & references therein 4. rod-shaped structure of fi brous texture in cells resembling a beam or a crossbar that extends across the cavity in a plant cell or duct. 5. Lessard, G, Rheault, F.J., D. Blouin, D., and DesJardins, J. 1996. Field guide for identifying birdseye maple. Centre d’enseignement et de recherché en foresterie de Sainte-Foy Inc., 29 pp

May/June 2014 World of Wood 27 Fig. 1. Elatum in birdseye maple. Fig. 2. Dimples (gelasini) in birdseye maple.

Fig. 3. Fingernails in black cherry. Fig. 4. Dimples in bark of maple.

Fig. 5. Birdseye bocote (Cordia elaeagnoides) Fig. 6. Birdseye korina (Terminalia superba)

Fig. 7. Birdseye movingui (Distemonanthus benthamianus) Fig. 8. Birdseye African mahogany (Khaya sp.) 28 World of Wood May/June 2014 Is It WHITE or Is It RED? by Elaine Hunt #8174 In January of this year I was visiting the with sapwood lighter in color. Outside Florida Artist Gallery, which is in the I went to check and yes, the wood was old Jont Knight house, in Floral City, pale orange to dark yellow. Next, I got Florida USA, with my friend Joyce on the internet to look it up. I tried the Symonds and her husband David. After University of Florida, USA, and Ohio a good lunch at the gallery cafe I found State University Extension, USA, but Joyce talking to Bill Covington about the most useful information was from IWCS and a mulberry tree. Apparently, Purdue University, USA, Forestry and there is an over 100 year old mulberry Natural Resources, Know Your Trees tree on the property that was in need Series (see hyperlink below). of trimming. Bill took my name and Since it was the middle of winter, I phone number and said he would call couldn’t go by the leaves and fruit. when the trimming was done and that I There were a few buds and as the was welcome to any of the wood for the literature said, there was a black band upcoming Southeast Regional Meeting on the edge of each scale, which I could at Lake Yale, near Eustis, Florida, USA. see with the help of a magnifying glass. Not long after that I received a call that As for the bark, its ridges were fl at and the trimming had been done and I could a grayish brown, which matched the get the wood. The next day I drove over picture in the article I had printed from to take a look and couldn’t believe my the Purdue web site. I could not see eyes. There were 5 or 6 pieces from 30 any inner bark and between the ridges to 40 inches long and about 10 to 18 was either the same color as the bark or inches in diameter. But what surprised slightly tan. me the most, was they were covered My next move was to return to the Artist with burls. I could only imagine what Gallery and talk to the people that are could be made with them. After getting most familiar with the tree. The only help from a friend, we loaded them on a thing I could fi nd out at that time was So with all my research I came to the trailer and home they came. the fruit, when ripe, was a deep purple to conclusion, that what I brought to the black and large. meeting was indeed red mulberry, After getting them home and being Morus rubra. proud of my acquisition, I told my friend I have let a month pass since my last trip Jim Zoellner about my fi nd. Then he to the Gallery. I went back again the last I have learned a lot from the simple asked, “Is it red mulberry, Morus rubra, week of March. There were large leaves question that Jim asked me, “is it red or or is it white mulberry, Morus alba ?” on the tree and also very small fruit. The is it white?” I have learned, once again, My answer, “ It’s red mulberry.” Again leaves measured 4 -4½ inches (10-12 that the simplest methods can be used to he asked, “ How do you know?” Then I cm) and larger. I could only reach the answer a question. I have had fun getting said, “ I don’t know, but I will fi nd out.” ones that were in the 4 inch range, but the information I needed and talking to people that could help me in my quest. The fi rst thing I did was to look up red the ones in the top of the tree were much larger. The edges were fi nely serrated Yes Jim, It Is Red Mulberry. mulberry in “A Guide To Useful Wood and slightly hairy on the underside. The of The World”. There I found out that fruit was pink and hung alone. They the timber has pale orange heartwood, were too high for me to get a sample. https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/FNR/FNR_237.pdf

May/June 2014 World of Wood 29 Regis-tree New members of the International Wood Collectors Society Borreggine, Nick & Kathy #9886 Lanthier, Martin #9893 Chase, Josette #9897 & Lecea*, Eduardo Interests: 1,2 E-mail: Interests: 1,4,5,6 Recruited by John Briton in South Recruited by Web Site E-mail: Carolina Recruited by Chuck Holder - Alberta, Hoffman, Earl & Linda #9894 Canada Hutnik*, Brett & Bill #9887 Concepito, Oreste #9898 Interests: 1,2 Interests: 1, 4, 5 E-mail: E-mail: Recruited by Robert Ritchie, Canada Recruited by Web Site Recruited by Web Site Perrett, Rodney #9888 Smelcer, Lisa #9895 Smith, Col #9899 & Hickson*, Bloss & Newsome, Jeffery 5 Fenton Place Bouvard, WA 6211, AUSTRALIA Interests: 1,2,5 E-mail: Interests: 1 Recruited by Web Site Recruited by Peter Rothkugel, E-mail: Queensland Recruited by Web Site Nitschke, Sam #9900 Keppler, Phyllis #9889 Kraus, Brent & David #9896 Interests: 1,3,4,5 & Tisdale, Mike E-mail: Interests: 1,2,3,4,5 Recruited by Web Site Interests: 1, 2, 4, 6 E-mail: Homestead, FL 33031, USA Recruited by Web Site E-mail: * Chapman, Greg & Renee #9890 Chapman Logging, Beautifulsceneryandwildlife,classicalsitesandwonderfulweather.Ifyoulikethese E-mail: youmightbeinterestedinstayingwithusatourholidayhomeinCrete,Greece.Enjoy Gift Membership Cretanfood,mediterraneansunshineandancientculture,seewonderfulplantsand Markgraf, Arne #9891 birdsandexquisitegeologicalsites.Gohikingortakeiteasy.Visitancientruinsfrom 3,000BCuptothepresentorgostrollingdownthenarrowstreetsoftheoldtownsin ChaniaorRethymno.Wewillpickyouupanddropyouoffattheairportandcantour Recruited by Web Site youaroundinourvan.Inprinciple,youcouldcomeanytimeoftheyearthatsuits you.We’rebackedbynearly40yearsofexperienceonCreteandguaranteeyou’ll Renie, Mark & Denise #9892 seeanddowonderfulthings.Incaseyou’reinterested,sendane-mailtoxxxxx 14532 Burgundy Way andwe’llsendyouadocumentgivingmoredetails. Huntley, IL 60142, USA Gift Membership WillemandMarijkeHurkmans #8761-L

ERNIE IVES MARQUETRY FUND RAISER by Pat Powers #4228-L Howdy fellow woodies! First let me the back cover of this issue. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, made say THANKS to all of you that donated The piece that Ernie donated is a out to IWCS. Your tickets will be to the Cork Screw Vase fund raiser. 12-sided plate with a cork backing. It mailed back to you. The drawing will The winner of this unique vase was is 12” across and is made to hang on be held at the IWCS meeting in Lake Past President Dan James. the wall or display on a fl at surface with Yale, Florida in February, 2015 after the proper stand (not included). The the craft auction on Saturday night. You Now we all have an opportunity to own rim is a dark brown wood (like walnut), do not have to be present to win!!! If another work of art and help IWCS and the main center wood is light you win and could not be there, it will treasury at the same time. Mr. Ernie colored (possibly maple). The inserts be shipped to you. Ives of the UK donated one of his are various colored woods. There are beautiful pieces of marquetry 7 fl owers, 9 large leaves and 6 smaller If you have any questions, please as a fund raiser. Shortly after his leaves. It has a semi-gloss fi nish, and contact Pat – email donation, Ernie passed. He was a great the workmanship is excellent. xxxx or call xxx-xxx- asset to IWCS and we will miss him. xxxx This may be your only chance to own Ticket prices are $5 each or 6 for $25. one of his masterpieces. See photo on Send a check to Pat Powers,xxxx xxxxx 30 World of Wood May/June 2014 Transporting Wood Across the Canada/USA Border by Chuck Holder et al. In anticipation of the upcoming 3. I have never had any problems with material, and you lose! Botanical IWCS Annual meeting in Ontario, bringing fi nished wood products into names on your labels are best. Canada this September, some practical the USA. Although I can't speak from It's always best to declare what you considerations are offered by several experience, I would expect it to be the have crossing a border. Sometimes members with lots of experience in same for taking fi nished wood items they don't check but you can't the matter of crossing the US-Canada into Canada. guarantee that your number won't border with wood specimens and be called. It depends a lot on which wood stock for craft purposes. 4. At the Canadian meeting in offi cer/agent you get and whether they September, I could “loan” the permit Alan Curtis happen to be doing a lot of checking , Past President and IWCS to other attendees should they request on a particular day. The laws are there Wood Import Permits advisor and it. This has not caused any problems for very good reason so let's be good custodian writes: in the past when I have done so. international woodnut citizens and I do have a "Permit to Import Timber However, I do not believe the permit promote our hobby/craft/interest so or Timber Products" that was issued is necessary if you have only a few that we gain respect and acceptance. by the USDA and is valid until small items of "clean" wood that you September 2015. So let me explain a are carrying with you. I will talk Greg Reed, past Canadian Trustee and couple of items. with anyone at the meeting who has frequent meeting attendee and border questions about how to proceed. Alan crosser also writes: 1. This permit is valid for bringing B. Curtis Regarding the issue of bringing wood wood into the USA from any foreign Robert Ritchie into Canada and the US, I concur country, and does not pertain to , IWCS Canadian with the above thoughts. It largely importing wood into Canada. Trustee and host of the meeting in depends on the offi cers at the time you 2. When bringing unfi nished (rough September advises: are crossing and the condition of the From personal experience about wood, not to mention the priorities sawn) wood into the USA the bringing wood into Canada (and the inspectors look for signs of wood and work load of the offi cers on any odd time taking wood into USA) given day. I have had both experiences borers that might be infesting the there are two (2) main issues that wood and could cause damage to our when travelling across the border by will raise RED FLAGS at the border car – i.e., being waived through with trees (as the Emerald Ash Borer has inspections: done when inadvertently brought no questions asked, to having fi rewood into this country perhaps in packing 1) - insects & diseases - if inspectors confi scated even though I claimed it crate wood). The best way to ensure see bark, fi nd ANY evidence of insect was for an auction of craftwork stock that the wood you are bring into this holes, sawdust from the same, or frass at an IWCS meeting. It did have tight country will pass inspection is to (insect feces) be prepared to have your bark on it, but in that particular case, remove any bark so the inspectors wood CONFISCATED; and, I think “fi rewood” was the word that can clearly see there is no evidence 2) - any wood, plants or animals that triggered the confi scation. of borers or bark beetles (adults or are endangered and are listed on CITES . You can fi nd these lists online, do Members should feel free to contact larvae). I have entered this country lists Alan, Robert or Greg with questions if numerous times with no problems a search with Google. For example, they wish, and also are encouraged to after the inspectors saw that my wood don't use the name ‘pink ivory’ - any share their experiences in cross border was "clean." I always carry a copy of mention of the word IVORY or any transport of wood with other members my permit to show when asked. other endangered and prohibited through the pages of World of Wood.

Book Review - Book Written by IWCS member #9392 by Mihaly Czako #5220-L Kahoy: Wood in the Philippines Vol. 1 – Wood and Its Uses from Pre-Hispanic to Spanish Colonial Philippines. Vol. 2 – Lexicon of Wood Terms from 16th to 19th Century Sources, by Cheek Sangalang FADRIQUELA, 400 pp. (v. 1) and 169 pp. (v. 2), illus. (black & white), 2013. University of Santo Tomas Publishing House, Manila, The Philippines, ISBN 9789715067003 (v.1) & 9789715067010 (v.2). in English with scientifi c names in Latin and vernacular names and technical terms in various languages. This two-volume paperback set (26 cm) is the outcome of research of an internship with the Center for Conservation of Cultural Property and Environment in the Tropics at the University of Santo Tomas, Manila. The author also visited the Xiloteca Soler (of Manuel Soler). Volume 1 contains 16 case studies covering such topics as history and wood artifacts, collections, conservation of artifacts, uses of wood, xylaria (wood collections). Case study 16 is about Vitex parvifl ora (“The Queen of Philippine Wood”), its botany, ecology, macro- and microscopic structure, physical and chemical properties and pests. The appendix has an index of scientifi c names and terminology, microscopic images of cross sections of 125 Philippine woods approaches to wood identifi cation and results of identifi cation of wood of artifacts. Volume 2 is a lexicon of wood terms used in old sources dating back as far as 1536. These books contain a variety of interesting reading and useful information and scientifi c names are mentioned wherever positive identifi cation was possible. This work is intended to fi ll a hiatus in publication on wood and its uses in a country endowed with rich natural and cultural resources. Considering the well researched content and that most books on Philippine wood are out of print these volumes are a fi ne addition to the library. The book is sold by the university (UST) and the National Bookstore, as well as online here: (http://www.marymartin.com/web/selectedIndex?mEntry=157712). May/June 2014 World of Wood 31 International Wood Collectors Society NON-PROFIT ORG 2300 West Rangeline Road U.S. Postage Greencastle, IN 46135 PAID Indpls, IN 462 Permit No. 8

ERNIE IVES MARQUETRY FUND RAISER by Pat Powers #4228-L