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

Volume 66, Number 3 May/June 2013

2013 the year of celebrating rare and beautiful woods Vol. 66, No. 3 ISSN 1068-7300 May/June 2013 The International Wood Collectors Society, founded in 1947, is a non-profi t society advancing information on wood.

Offi cers and Trustees President: Melvin Talley Contents President-elect: Elaine Hunt MessagesandGreetings ...... 3 Vice President/Acting President: Bob Chastain Southeast Regional Meeting ...... 3,8,12-13,16-17 Secretary-Treasurer: Paul and Kris Troyer My Personal Appreciation of Wood...... 4-5 Publications Chairman: Chuck Holder, The North Island of New Zealand...... 6, 10-11, 25 First Past President: Garry Roux What is Old is Really New...... 7-8 Second Past President: Art Lee Exploring...The Puerto Morelos Arboretum ...... 9 The Kew Wood Collection — Part I...... 14-16 Endowment Fund Chairman: Allen Nemetz Shrubwoods of the World ...... 18-20 Archivist: Dennis Wilson Regional Trustees Growth Rings: The IWCS Record ...... 21 Australasia (2010-Oct 1, 2013): Brian Davis, Queensland, Australia Member Listings and Requests...... 20,26 Canada (2012-Oct 1,2015): Robert Ritchie, Ontario, Canada EuroAfrica (2010-2013): Willem Hurkmans, Overijssel, Netherlands Australian Woods ...... 22-23 UK (2010-2013): Bob Goddard, United Kingdom USA Central (2012-Oct 1, 2015): Gary Gronborg, Missouri,USA BookReview:SomeMoreChineseBooks...... 24,30 USA Great Lakes (2011-2014): John Burris, Indiana, USA USA NE: Open Member since 1974 - Still Turning at 92 . . . 25 USA NW (2010-2013): Alan Curtis, Oregon, USA Regis-Tree...... 27 USA SE (2010-2013): Tom Kinney, Florida, USA USA SW (2011-2014): Dave Mouat, California, USA A Favorite Wood ...... 28-30 Committee Chairs and Service Providers All-Mail Auction: Open Wood Meets ...... 31 Craft Sales: Allan Schwindt, Washington, USA Raffl e - Pandanus utilis - screw-palm vase...... 32 Membership Committee: Bob Chastain, Indiana,USA. New-member Correspondent: Garry Roux, Illinois, USA Nominations Committee: Garry Roux, Illinois, USA Corporate Membership: Daryle Layton, Idaho, USA Student Membership: Open Membership Directory: Susan Stamm, Oklahoma, USA Website Committee: Art Lee, Maryland, USA Webmaster: Erlene Tarleton, California, USA Wood Import Permits: Alan Curtis, Oregon, USA Wood Specimen Kits: Gary Green, Indiana, USA

The World of Wood is published bimonthly by the International Wood Collectors Society (IWCS). IWCS is devoted to distributing information on collecting wood, correctly identifying and naming Editor Mihaly Czako PhD woodspecimens,andusingwoodincreativecrafts.Contributionsforpublicationmaybeeducational, scientifi c, technical or of general interest to members and relevant to the purposes of the Society. Associate Editors Papers may be refereed by an Editorial Board of technically trained members. The phrases ‘World Ken Bassett — Washington, USA of Wood’, ‘IWCS Wood Data Sheet’and all materials contained herein are © Copyright protected Richard Crow — Cornwall, England by the International Wood Collectors Society. Address requests to reprint material to the Editor. Alan Curtis — Oregon, USA The World of Wood is published as a benefi t to members of the IWCS, a non- Fred Holder — Washington, USA profi t organization of botanists, dendrologists, and other scientists, technologists, Willem Hurkmans — Overijssel, Netherlands wood collectors, hobbyists and crafts people for mutual assistance and reciprocation. Ernie Ives — Suffolk, England Regular “Hard Copy” Membership rates for individuals or couples in the USA are: US$40 Barry & Danielle James — KZN, South Africa annually, US$105 for 3 years, US$150 for 5 years and US$575 for Life Membership. Student Morris Lake — Queensland, Australia Membership is US$15 per year. Corporate Membership is US$150 annually, US$325 for 3 years, David Mouat PhD — California, USA US$450 for 5 years. In Australia only: US$45 annually, US$120 for 3 years, US$175 for 5 years, Nelis Mourik — South Holland, Netherlands US$650 for Life Membership, US$15 annually for Student Membership, US$150, US$375, Susan Stamm — Oklahoma, USA and US$525 for Corporate Membership annually, for 3 years, and for 5 years, respectively. In all other countries: US$55 annually, US$150 for 3 years, US$225 for 5 years, US$750 for Worldwide web : http://www.woodcollectors.org Life Membership, US$15 annually for Student Membership, US$150, US$375, and US$525 for Corporate Membership annually, for 3 years, and for 5 years, respectively. On line rates in all countries for members who opt out of hard copy mailings are: US$35 annually, US$90 for 3 years, US$125 for 5 years, US$500 for Life Membership, US$15 annually for Student Membership, US$125, US$325, and US$450 for Corporate Membership annually, for 3 years, and for 5 years, respectively. Applications are available from the Secretary-Treasurer or from the IWCS website. Dues and address changes also should be directed to the Secretary-Treasurer. We encourage your membership in our unique international organization. Cover photographs Background: Curly grain Douglas-fi r (Pseudotsuga menziesii). Center: Miniature Oak Chair, 26 cm, copy of client’s chair by Rodney J. Hunt of Artisan Model Chairs 2 World of Wood May/June 2013 Messages and Greetings

From the President Melvin Talley #5601 not take much to set up a meeting. Ask for help. We set up a meeting at the fairgrounds in May for 4-H boys & girls. To All. The Southeast Regional Meeting went well We think that it will be good, something new. Mike Black, and everyone was really pleased. I would like to thank Bill Cockrell, and myself will be in charge of it. I would everyone for the demonstrations and crafts programs. The like to see everyone to set up a meeting in his or her area. craft auction went very well; there were a lot of items that people donated. The saw mill went very well also; Early in May, a number of members assembled in Howick, there were a lot of members that were there. I hope to see South Africa, to attend the fi rst IWCS meeting ever held many new members to join this year and a big turnout at on the African continent. On behalf of IWCS Board of Lake Yale next year. We welcome Elaine Hunt as our new Trustees I sent them our best wishes for a successful, president elect. educational and most enjoyable meeting. The Board particularly wishes to thank Barry and Danielle James and We have Tom Kinney to host the next meeting at Lake Stephanie Dyer and all who assisted them in planning and Yale in 2014. Tom will need a lot of help and I hope some hosting this ambitious undertaking and also Andrew and of you can help us out. The board meeting will take place the folks at “African Insight” for the selection of tours at the same time as this year (at 2.00 pm). I would like to offered to the delegates to allow them to see more of the thank each and every one of the offi cers who are working country. This is the kind of member enthusiasm I referred with me this year. They are real super to IWCS and me. We to above. had a good turnout in Florida this year. We need a lot more to get with it and help set up meetings in their area. It does

Southeast Regional Meeting by Art Lee and Mihaly Czako

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The Presidents’ Chorus singing “The Banana Boat” song at Southeast Regional Meeting. Standing from left to right: Alan Curtis, Melvin Talley, Dan James, Bill Perkins, Garry Roux, Art Lee, and Elaine Hunt. 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 2013 issue.

May/June 2013 World of Wood 3 My Personal Appreciation of Wood by Rodney J. Hunt, Artisan Model Chairs, Nanton, Alberta, Canada No doubt as I do, many of you also the problems and explaining how 1800s thrown in. share a lifelong love for wood, and the repair would be done, and giving A problem I soon encountered was most of the furniture made with it. an estimate for this work, I would that I often grew quite fond of the With this fundamental appreciation pause while they considered. If this lovely chairs my clients brought embedded in me, I decided about was acceptable I would also offer to into the workshop. I wanted to own 27 years ago to spend the second re-polish the frame and for my son to chairs just like them for myself. But half of my working life immersed renew the upholstery if necessary. starting a chair collection was out of in woodwork. Specifi cally, restoring We nearly always got the chair to the question as I didn’t have a house antique chairs, in England where I repair but their custodians sometimes big enough. But again, if the chairs I lived at the time. looked a bit apprehensive at the scale collected were all scaled to 1 in 4, I Repairing broken chairs is very of the work as they left their chair in could easily get a roomful onto one satisfying work. Several times a week our care. On their return a few weeks shelf! clients would call by my workshop, later with the chair elevated back to With this in mind I started to collect timidly popping their head round the details and photos of the antique door and explaining that they had an chairs passing through my workshop. old chair in the car and wondered if I I scaled the plans down to suit the could do anything with it. My stock miniature copies I wanted to make answer was always “I’ll certainly and used what I thought at the time have a look” knowing that I couldn’t were suitable woods, i.e., the wood possibly predict what I was going the original chair was made from. This to fi nd. Chairs of all periods, styles did not work out well as the coarser and values found their way into my grained woods (oak, elm, walnut and workshop following this simple mahogany) were unable to take the exchange. Then, just carrying the chair much reduced carved and moulded into the workshop would be suffi cient detail with the clean edge that small handling to tell its age, style, the wood Parts for an English Windsor chair scale work required. This scale work it was made from and possibly even from Nottinghamshire c. 1860. Yew needed tight grain woods, reasonably where it was made! On examining wood with steam bent hoops and Crinoline stretcher hard, that would also take kindly to traditional staining and polishing its rightful status and looking just as methods. valuable as I had said, the pleasure on their faces was my further reward. After this initial transaction we would often slowly work our way through their house, repairing, polishing and upholstering. Small tables are much the same as a chair to repair, a chest of drawers is completely different, but a welcome relief after a few weeks of chairs. Complementary to my repair work I also took commissions to make extra copies of clients antique dining chairs. This was to enable them to extend their existing sets. Most chair styles contain some challenges as every set within a style has its own variations and usually required me to make tools Philadelphia Comb-back, c.1765. Seat to match its particular mouldings. saddled out and channelled showing the legs thru jointed and wedged, also Much of my copy work was to extend Client’s 17c Oak Yorkshire Dale chair. the steam bent arm hoop. Made in Georgian and Victorian dining sets, I requested permission to picture and English Yew Taxus baccata. measure for scaling down 1 in 4. The with some “country “ chairs from the replica is shown on the cover. 4 World of Wood May/June 2013 able to reveal what was hidden inside. I soon discovered a wealth of use- ful timber, all sustainable. Many logs were already cut to a suitable length and could be found on friends fi re- wood piles! From then on the chance to explore new gardens and wood piles always held for me the exiting promise of more unique supplies. Laburnum, plum, box, blackthorn and lilac all yielded small quantities of good wood Chippendale Ladder-back under for carving and shaping the intricate construction. Ladder tye bars are pierced and edge beaded between mouldings I required to make my min- tapered and edge beaded styles. The iatures. I found many woods that kept front legs are faced with a toads back moulding. c.1760, Ht 9” made in a nice clean edge and also took kindly Blackthorn, Prunus spinosa to being stained down to look like the antiques I was copying. I knew that Yew, Box and some fruit- woods had these qualities, could there be more? So I found myself getting Nottinghamshire Windsor made up and fi nished showing the pierced and fret- curious about the trees that grew ted black splats. around me, especially the many orna- mental trees growing in local English cover. A simple way to check the fi nal gardens. Garden trees regularly grow stability of your timber is to plane up too big for their location and often two fl at square edges. Stack inside get heavily pruned or even cut down. and check these edges every so often, By collecting these limbs and run- squaring again until they remain true. ning them through the band saw I was It is unlikely you will need to use the old timber seasoning adage of a year an inch plus one, as the sizes are Some of my miniature chair making wood stock. From the left, Black- so small. Wood for steam bending thorn, Plum, English Box-wood with is best used green, after boiling 10 a ripple, small piece of Apple, Black- thorn dried out with a curve, Apple minutes, bending round a former, and and well-seasoned Plum cut out for leaving somewhere warm and toasty seat rails. At the back a billet of Lilac. for 48 hrs, a 6 to 9 mm section is then Yew wood is outstanding to work suffi ciently seasoned and will not with; it rewards your turning, bending move further. and polishing with a deep lustrous In summing up I would like to say colour and shine. Boxwood carves to any of you contemplating making and turns detail brilliantly but is small items in wood, that you do not diffi cult to colour. Wild varieties of need to use exotic imports from round cherry trees struggling to survive in a the world. Explore for yourself the hedge often have a much harder timber local potential where you live. I easily with closer grain than their garden found suffi cient sizes and quantities to grown, heavily fl owering cousins. I make my 1 in 4 scale chairs. also discovered crotch / fl ame veneers to a 1 in 4 scale in the branch forks of suitable young trees. These are excellent for the small scale inlays on crest rails and tye bars. Regency chair in Plum wood, Prunus domestica, showing the miniature crotch or fl ame veneers on the over- Limbs cut before the sap rises are sailing crest rail and tye bar. Scroll best, but the choice may not always arms and sabre legs. Ht 8.5” c. 1815. be yours. I cut them thru the middle and make small stacks outside under May/June 2013 World of Wood 5 The North Island of New Zealand by David Mather #9205

We all share a love for wood; also, transit. Consequently, we loaded tent Lindy appears in the accompanying hopefully, an appreciation for the and packs into our little compact, picture. living tree. Other than climbing trees and set off to explore, beating up As we meandered up the northeastern as a child and seeking their shade our faithful little car for over 3,000 coast, I spied a tiny road sign pointing on a hot summer’s day, I didn’t pay miles. Our plan was to hike and camp inland that said: Kauri Forest and much attention to them until after I on both the North and South Islands, Double-Bole Kauri. From my had graduated from college and joined breaking it up with stays in little haphazard research, I thought that the Peace Corps in a reforestation cabins along the way. We generally the Kauri tree (Agathis australis) was program. Since then, trees and wood choose “Lonely Planet” or one of the limited to the west coast of the North have dominated my life in both work “Rough Guide” series guidebooks Island. Naturally, we turned on to and travel. At the last Southeast when we travel because they offer the the narrow gravel road to investigate. Regional Winter Wood Fest at Lake kind of info we appreciate. We also Up, up, and up we went, and I began Yale, I explained a little of this to have found that if you ‘read between to wonder if there would ever be a “World of Wood” editor Mihaly the lines,’ you can arrive at some place to turn around if things went Czako, and he encouraged me to write pretty interesting places. awry —steep on both sides of the road an article, accompanied by photos, Once we were underway, heading where there was not enough room about one of my trips. north from Auckland, about the fi rst now for two cars to pass. As I glanced It is diffi cult to select one out of so thing that caught my attention, other right and left, I noticed the woods’ many — backpacking adventures than driving on the ‘wrong’ side of similarity to the temperate rain forest around the world, trekking amongst the road, was the pohutukawa tree all sorts of tree species. Maybe an (Metrosideros excelsa). How could I article about Morocco and its Atlas cedars (Cedrus atlantica), covered in snow with monkeys swinging in the branches? Or maybe descriptions of the delicate rain forest a thousand miles up the Amazon River, or the jungles of Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras, and other parts of Latin America and Southeast Asia? Then there’s always the temperate rain Pohutukawa (Christmas Tree) - forest of southern Chile with its proud Metrosideros excelsa Alerce (Fitzroya cupressoides), a close cousin to our Giant Sequoia, plus a not notice this vast spreading, coastal myriad of hardwood species. How tree of the North Island covered about photos from Crete, Italy, and in bright red fl owers. Because it mainland Greece, of ancient gnarled blooms in December, the Kiwis (New olive trees, or the oases of the Sahara Zealanders) refer to it as the Christmas -”...so much pitch that they looked like with its date palms? What to choose? Tree. About a week or so later in the layered icicles.” Well, there is one trip — tree-wise — little town of Te Araroa, we were to that indeed stands out in my mind: visit New Zealand’s largest—about of southern Chile — thick, layered, New Zealand. My wife Lindy and twenty meters high with a spread of beautiful birdsong everywhere. I spent two wonderful months there thirty-eight meters. Note how tiny We found the double-bole kauri, plus during the winter of 2010-2011. others. As I recall, each had a large hack taken out of them which had It was a pretty posh trip for us in the healed over with so much pitch that sense that we rented a car. Usually they looked like layered icicles. I we take public transportation because wondered if the hacks had been some we feel it affords a ‘truer’ experience sort of blaze, but, looking at their when we can mingle more with the orientation, it didn’t make sense. host peoples. But what we wanted to ..... continued on page 10. do in New Zealand wasn’t possible, Largest Pohutukawa tree in NZ (note Lindy standing at its base) or at least problematical, with public 6 World of Wood May/June 2013 What is Old is Really New by Daryle Layton #6355

When used as a construction material recognize some them. Some of the Author’s note: The author is a retired wood is very durable as long as it is best known are creosote (a coal tar wood scientist who worked for Bayer kept dry, away from decay organisms, residue used widely on marine pilings Corp. and Boise Cascade. He has insects, marine organisms and and the in-ground portion of power followed the subject of chemical protected from fi re. We as humans poles), pentachlorophenol (widely modifi cation of wood, especially do not always remember this and try used for power poles) chromated acetylation, his entire career. to push the envelope, so to speak. copper arsenate (remember the CCA For example, many times a species green wood widely used for residential So what would you give for a piece of wood, which is very good for roof decks, etc. until banned by EPA due to of wood that has minimal shrinkage framing, is used for fence posts. In the chromium and arsenic content in and swelling, can be used anywhere this application it will deteriorate very 2003), ammoniacal copper salts (think because fungi and termites will not quickly. Man has always known that of the brown wood used today for attack it, and will not fade or turn wood is part of the cycle of life and, decking), copper naphthenate (green, grey if exposed to weather? Well, as such, nature employs numerous brush on product available over the the dream is upon us—although natural processes for its breakdown. counter today), and boric acid salts. it is limited in the species that are Its elements are then returned to the Most of these chemicals are applied available. environment for recycling as new life. to wood in a solvent by soaking, This is accomplished by decay, fi re brushing on, or most commonly by To make sure that many of you will and breakdown by wood destroying pressure treatment in large, industrial not ignore this because you deem insects and marine organisms. Each treating cylinders. These products are it too technical and not really not year an immense amount of wood effective because even when water “woody enough”, let me say this from succumbs to these natural deterioration is present they are toxic to wood the outset: There are two commercial processes. Man has long sought and destroying fungi, insects and marine products becoming available that employed numerous means to prevent organisms. I believe may change the way we these natural phenomena. This is the think about wood and its dimensional fi eld of wood preservation and I will Now let’s switch gears and discuss changes and may revolutionize the discuss it in some detail. chemical modifi cation of wood. This way wood can be used in outdoor is different from the preservatives environments. The fi rst is Accoya/ A given fact about wood is that it is mentioned above because it involves Titan wood which is well traveled hygroscopic—it absorbs and holds using simple chemicals to react Radiata pine grown in New Zealand, water in it cellular structure. And with reactive sites on the polymers shipped to Scandinavia for treatment, with this absorption comes swelling that make up wood—cellulose and then shipped again for distribution in followed by shrinkage when the water lignin. In the fi eld of wood research, the US and Canada. The second is is lost. When used as a construction scientists determined very early that Perennial Wood, which is southern material this fact must be understood the hygroscopic nature of wood is pine treated by Eastman Chemicals and taken into account. When used caused by the many hydroxyl (-OH) and now available in NE and SE for artistic and utilitarian purposes we groups that are present in cellulose United States. These two products hope this movement is not excessive! and lignin. Researchers theorized that are chemically modifi ed wood not the This hygroscopic nature of wood is if the hydroxyl groups were blocked traditional preservative treated wood fundamentally important to the natural with another chemical to form a group most of you are familiar with. I will degradation processes because fungi that was not hygroscopic, perhaps address the technical aspects of how and termites must have water in order even hydrophobic, the shrinking and these products are produced after a to perform their dastardly deeds of swelling might be reduced. Since little background information. wood destruction. wood-destroying organisms must have water, reduction of the hygroscopic As humans, we have used wood in Now let’s get technical and talk about tendency of wood would also reduce many ways. Some of it has been wood preservation. Researchers the ability of organisms to function. decorative and utilitarian. As artists, in this fi eld of wood science have wood has served us well and many developed many chemical treatments Over the years many different wooden objects have lasted for over the years to deter the biological chemicals have been investigated and centuries. But much, much more deterioration of wood. The list of found to be effective in doing this. has been used for construction and these chemicals is long and you will One class of chemicals, in particular building. May/June 2013 World of Wood 7 the anhydrides, react readily with There are at least two commercial testing and will certainly publish my hydroxyl groups. Acetic anhydride facilities producing acetylated wood results. was found to replace the active under the trade name of Accoya/Titan hydrogen on the hydroxyl groups in wood. They import Radiata pine from I have samples of both of these wood by an esterifi cation reaction to New Zealand, treat it and sell it in products and they look and feel just form acetyl groups (wood-O-COCH3). Europe, and export it to several fi rms like real wood. They have the original It turns out that these acetyl groups in Canada and the US. If you want mechanical properties of wood and keep the wood in a swollen or bulked more details just Google “acetylated take fi nishes as well as unmodifi ed state. Water can still absorb into wood” and look for Accoya wood or wood. In fact, most of Eastman’s modifi ed wood by capillary action Titan wood and you can fi nd more Perennial Wood is prefi nished in a but, since it is already in a swollen information than you would ever need number of popular deck colors. The state, swelling does not increase. to know about it. only difference is that in modifi ed Also, it will not shrink. Voila! wood you can detect a slight vinegar This only needed to be made into a Next in the ball game was Eastman odor. One of the byproducts of the commercially viable process. (My Chemicals in the US. They developed acetylation process is acetic acid explanation is much more simple than their own patented process and have (vinegar). Most of this is recovered reality.) built a commercial plant in Kingsport, during the treating process, but a slight TN to treat southern pine using what odor persists. As early as the 1920s there was they call TruLast technology. They are success in laboratories modifying now marketing decking products under In 2006, Roger Rowell, formerly wood with acetic anhydride. Patents the trade name of Perennial Wood. of the USDA Forest Products were issued as early as the 1930’s Google this and again you will fi nd all Lab wrote an excellent review of and 1940’s but commercialization of the information you will need. acetylation technology in the Forest did not come until the 1980’s. A Products Journal. I used some Japanese company, Daiken, used this The short of this long explanation of his information in putting this technology as early as the 1980’s to is that there is now commercially article together. However, I also produce a fl ooring product called available, acetylated Radiata pine corresponded with Accoya/Titan Alpha-wood. I do not, however, and southern pine that have been and Eastman Chemicals. You can believe it is still in commercial chemically modifi ed to render them access Rowell’s article at the web production. dimensionally stable and fungi and address below. You should note, termite resistant. There are some however, that his article was written BP Chemicals in Europe pursued reports that acetylated wood is before the products acetylation technology and eventually resistant to ultraviolet exposure. There I have mentioned licensed this technology to companies is still some question about this. I am were commercially in Denmark, Sweden and Holland. in the process of doing some simple available. http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Acetylation+of+wood%3a+journey+from+analytical+technique+to+commercial... -a0152012392

An ancient live oaks (Quercus virginiana) wanly festooned by the grey Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides, Bromeliaceae) and their old limbs nearly lying down the forest fl oor invite botanists and foresters like Alan Curtis to take a closer look at their infl orescences, called catkins, which were evident in February 2013. This ancient tree is just inside the gate of the Lake Yale Baptist Convention Center, Florida, USA.

8 World of Wood May/June 2013 Exploring...The Botanical Garden at Puerto Morelos, Mexico Alan B. Curtis #1132 HL

A visit to this botanical garden is a Spanish cedar (Cedrela odorata), wild. There is also a collection of 32 nice way to become acquainted with ziricote (Cordia dodecandra), and orchid species and 25 bromeliad and the tropical fl ora of Mexico’s Yucatan lignum-vitae or guayacan (Guaiacum fern species all of which are native to Peninsula. The garden, offi cially sanctum). An interesting exhibit the Yucatan Peninsula. known as “El Jardin Botanico Dr. shows the work of the “chicleros,” the Alfredo Barrera Marin” is located early settlers who harvested the sap Education has not been neglected as 21 miles south of the resort city of of the sapote tree and prepared it for school children are invited to attend Cancun, along the east coast of the export to become the fi rst chewing environmental education classes and Peninsula. gum. The largest trees in the garden activities to encourage conservation. are about 4 feet (more than 1 m) The garden preserves one of the few in diameter and better than 50 feet I have visited this garden over a period remaining, easily accessible places, tall (16 m). Their age is not known of more than 25 years and always fi nd with undisturbed forest of native trees (as there are no annual rings as in something new to study. My “worst” that illustrates how the Peninsula’s temperate zone trees), but a nearby experience was just after Hurricane vegetation evolved before the Spanish study by the Smithsonian Institution Gilberto in 1988 when I saw hundreds invasion brought changes to the area on tree growth may help solve this. of trees that had been broken and in the 1500s. The forest is classifi ed My guess as to the age of the largest uprooted by the wind. But time has as a “medium height semi-deciduous trees is 300 years. passed and today you wouldn’t know forest.” During the dry season as the terrible destruction I saw years many as 50 % of the dominant trees Another site is the ruins of a Mayan ago. You will enjoy a visit any time! may lose their leaves. Besides the shrine, today named “El Altar.” A sign canopy trees there is also a “sub- board explains what is believed to be canopy” layer of trees, vines, and the function of the place, now a group epiphytic plants. There are important of sculptured rocks in several groups timber trees in both of these canopies. overgrown with trees. The local Mayan descendents fi nd the wooded It is not just trees and plants that are site a nice place for weddings as I of interest here. An observation tower have observed. is a popular bird-watching site that overlooks a large mangrove swamp. The botanical garden considers the Frequently seen in the trees is a troop preservation of its Mayan heritage of spider monkeys swinging from important and has recreated two branch to branch in search of ripe fruit “palapas” where a family would have to eat. lived. They are “furnished” with Some economically important plants are labeled: Diospyros nicaraguensis, hammocks, for sleeping, and cooking ‘uchiche’, wood is useful, fruit is The garden covers 132 acres (60 utensils, etc. that would have been edible, SE Mexico & Guatemala. This ha) and is managed by ECOSUR, used over an open fi re. This is a very fallen fruit is about 3/8 in. in diameter El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, in interesting exhibit with explanatory and the persistent calyx has four lobes. Chiapas, Mexico. There is a friendly signs that show the harsh realities The leaves could not be reached. Photo by Mihaly Czako, December 2012. staff to greet you, give you a map, of life in the forest. Adjacent is a and point out the highlights of your collection of medicinal plants and walk. Paths lead to many of the 188 hollow logs used to keep bees for different tree species found in the honey production. garden, most of which are labeled with their botanical and common The botanical garden has a plant names, and their important uses – nursery, or “vivero.” It concentrates wood for construction, medicinal on propagation of plants whose properties, importance for bees, edible existence in the region is threatened by fruits, forage for animals, shade, and over exploitation, urban growth, and ornament. the increasing tourist industry. This is important for 4 species of palms that Caesalpinia violacea, ‘chakte viga’ in A few of the important trees here are: are in great demand for landscaping fruit. Wood is source of a red dye. sapote or chicle (Manilkara zapota), and that are rapidly disappearing in the Mihaly Czako, December 2012 May/June 2013 World of Wood 9 I think the sap, or gum, had been harvested at some point, much like the turpentine trees of Portugal, to be rendered into varnish and other products. But the trees were still beautiful, up to six feet in diameter. I was very much impressed…that is, until we crossed over to the west, or Kauri, coast. My Lonely Planet guide book says this about the Kauri Coast: “The main reason for coming here is to marvel at the magnifi cent kauri forests, one of the great natural highlights of NZ. This is one for the chubby chasers of the tree-hugging fraternity — you’d need 8-m arms to get them around some of the big boys here.” The guide book goes on to say that kauri can grow up to 60 meters in height with a trunk 5 meters in diameter! The largest in the Waipoua Kauri Forest, volume,not height-wise, is called Te Lindy and a giant Kauri Matua —Father of the Forest.

Te Matua Ngahere - Father of the Forest 10 World of Wood May/June 2013 Kauri Museum exhibits: The Sawmill, Amber, Gum Diggers After the museum, we headed to We have all heard the expression that the mid-island, eastern coast which a picture is worth 1000 words; but was much more arid. The hills were really, take a gander! covered in the white bloom of small trees maybe 6-25’ tall — manuka There is also the Kauri Museum trees (Leptospermum scoparium). down the highway in Matakohe The honey made from its blossoms which is really, really worth the price is extremely anti-bacterial, and we of admission. There you will see stopped to buy some of the more super displays: a full-scale sawmill inexpensive grade (none of it was reproduction, beautiful furniture and cheap) to spread on our toast in the other products made from the trees, morning. You could also buy much pictures of the logging, even a lifelike Tremendous Kauri plank more potent (and expensive) mixtures scene of ‘gumdiggers’ mining the Australia. The rig enabled him to saw considered pharmaceutical. I can’t ancient kauri amber. A few feet away out tremendous planks like the one in remember what the ‘high test’ cost is a gleaming display of large golden the picture which must be 8’wide, at roadside, but I googled manuka honey chunks of amber, and you can buy least 20’ long, 4 or 5” thick! and found that the upper echelon here both amber and small pieces of ancient While we were there, his helpers were in the States retails for over $50 for kauri wood, certifi ed 50,000 years sandblasting a gigantic stump-plus- only 8.75 ounces! When we began old, in the gift shop. root system — removing all traces of our travels around the South Island, For the most part, it is against the bark — so it could be shipped to China we stopped at a couple of pubs in the law to log live kauri. However, it is to become an organic sculpture in Nelson area where I drank a few pints legal to dig ancient behemoths out some skyscraper lobby. At the outlet, of craft beer laced with a just a touch of peat bogs where they have been of manuka honey—excellent brew. It perfectly preserved—absolutely was the fi rst time I felt like I was doing huge excavators are usually used. As something healthy by drinking beer. we approached Dargaville, before We took magical walks through Matakohe and the museum, we saw many ancient, mossy podocarp a large retail outlet for the ancient forests on both the North and South wood. To the side and behind the Island. Three species stood out: the building was a tremendous stump and Totara (Podocarpus totara) likes log pile. Did I mention that I started sandy soil, has immense trunks, and and ran a successful specialty lumber grows up to 30 meters; the Rimu business in New Hampshire for over (Dacrydium cupressinum) likes richer thirty years!? I traveled from Maine to Hollowed out and fi nished Kauri stump soils and is taller; and the Kahikatea Pennsylvania, buying only the highest for sale (Dacrycarpus dacrydioides), or white quality or extremely unusual, one-of- pine, is the tallest native tree of New a-kind, logs. So, obviously, we had small pieces of ancient kauri, unusual Zealand, reaching over 60 meters. The to stop and check out the operation. large slabs, as well as 8 feet high understory alone with a multitude of The owner, Nelson, gave us a tour. stumps hollowed and polished were He showed us the Lucas sawmill being sold. ...continued on page 25. that he had specially built for him in May/June 2013 World of Wood 11 The Southeast Regional Meeting ..continued from page 3.

We had over 20 presenters including The IWCS president, Melvin Talley, turned a long thin stemmed goblet. 12 non-members who were presenting presided over a specially convened Don Geiger demonstrated how to turn for the fi rst time at an IWCS meeting. annual board meeting because a natural edged bowl. There were 45 sessions of classes, we might not have a quorum of demonstrations, presentations and trustees and board members at the The schedule also contained non-wood other activities. A big “thank you” annual meeting in South Africa. related crafting opportunities. Arnette goes to Tom and Linda Kinney who The minutes were published in the Sherman led a group of avid bird hosted the meeting and all of the March/April 2013 edition of WoW. watchers around Lake Yale. Other Elaine Hunt volunteered to fi ll the attendees spent one morning at the vacant President-elect position. nearby Eustis fl ea/farmer’s market She was approved by the board and buying some of the freshest fruits and her appointment was announced at vegetables available. Elaine brought a the meeting. She will become the fl at of fresh strawberries for everyone next president in 2014 at the end of to nibble on while they strolled Melvin’s tenure. through the main hall looking at all of the member displays.

Lynn Hagen and Evelyn Forbes led craft jewelry classes. Linda Kinney showed how to make decorative pin Tom & Linda Kinney with President cushions. Tracy Sturmack gave a Melvin Talley in the back. demonstration on tie dying fabric and behind the scenes volunteers. Events painting on fabric. Pam Munger and included a valentine themed craft Judy Chastain gave a class on dried and woodworking competition, and a fl ower crafts. The Red Hat society Elaine Hunt accepts nomination to special Valentine’s day karaoke dance. President-elect enjoyed an afternoon tea. Several members gave turning As always, the member displays are demonstrations. Bob Chastain and a highlight of the meetings. Most Harry Wheeler turned Christmas of the members really enjoy sharing tree decorations with thin fi nials. their techniques and providing tips. Bob showed how he polished the Gerald Dorn brought two of his wood decoration using Harry’s stuffed sculptures, one was a woman’s torso possum. Harry is known for bringing shaped and polished from a single Several brave members belted out the cans of “Road kill possum” for the blackwood (Dalbergia melanoxylon) tunes. The attending past presidents log. The other fi gure was a baby were pressed into singing “The elephant surrounded by members of Banana Boat” song. the herd. The winners of the valentine themed craft and woodworking competition were Craft: 1st Lois Sanders, 2 nd JoAnn Talley, 3 rd Opal Powers; Wood: 1st Melvin Talley, 2 nd Herm Stolte, 3 rd Bill Cockrell. Shelly Roux and JoAnn Talley won the Mr. and Mrs. Spirit Stick search. They Bob and Harry turning ornaments. introduced themselves to as many auction. Paul Troyer turned miniature members as possible and asked them, vessels. Larry Myers demonstrated “Are you Mr. or Mrs. Spirit Stick?” “Indiana” style vase turning. Art The prizes were two hand carved spirit Worth showed attendees how to turn walking sticks made by Les Smith of a two-axis lidded box. Rudy Lopez Landrum, SC. Gerald Dorn with his sculptures 12 World of Wood May/June 2013 Wes Kolkmeier (who appeared on the patterns. He was successful in spalting Members of the Nature’s Coast cover of the March/April 2013 WoW) a freshly cut maple log by placing it and the Ocala Chippers Carving gave an impromptu talk at his display vertical in the ground and covering it Clubs met in the main hall and gave table of how he built and turned his with leaves. The wood was heavily carving demonstrations. Jim Adams 5-foot+ tall segmented vases. spalted in 8 months. He displayed demonstrated how to carve faces into several large bowls made from the golf balls. Wayne Kates and Jack John Davis gave his always popular spalted wood. Murphy demonstrated air brushing on class on walking sticks and fl utes. carvings. John’s class provides an inviting environment to sit, carve and chat. Pete Richardson from Viable Lumber, John showed me how to make a described how his small business is bamboo fl ute several years ago and trying to save beautiful logs from told me to have positive thoughts being thrown away in landfi lls. He while I was making it. Whether his joins together hundreds of volunteers, advice was spiritual or psychological, sawyers, craftsmen and artists. either way, it was good advice! In the By working with arborists and same classroom, landscaping companies, he identifi es trees which have the potential to produce useful lumber, such as Florida rosewood (Dalbergia sissoo), ear pod, and camphor. Pete advises the arborists on the best way to drop trees to recover the most usable lumber. Once the arborist drops the tree, Viable Lumber hauls the logs to Pete’s backyard, where the logs are milled. The arborist or landscaper saves money by not having to haul the logs John Davis’s classroom to the landfi ll. Volunteers assist with the process, working in exchange for Bob Parker explained wood spalting Bob Parker hand chopped a bowl techniques - a bowl made of spalted free or discounted lumber. from a freshly-cut Osage orange log sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) The always popular wood and craft using an adze. Members would stop auctions brought in much needed by and chat with Bob as he chopped. Harry and Betty Lamb showed us funds for IWCS operations. Members The conversations varied from cutting how to photograph small and large technique to important topics of the items using different techniques and day. Bob also gave a talk on spalted inexpensive backdrops. Harry showed wood at his display table in the main us different photo software to edit photos. Ted Spangenberg taught slat weaving to a packed room of attendees eager to walk away with a hand woven foot stool.

Way Hoyt, Arborist, checking out Pete Richardson’s exhibit

generously donated logs, boards, fi nished crafts and art pieces. The Bob Parker chopped Osage (Maclura Estate of John DeMay donated his pomifera) bowl tools to be sold at the meeting. hall. Spalting is coloration of wood by fungi, usually in dark stripes or dark Harry Lamb photo techniques ....continued on page 16. May/June 2013 World of Wood 13 The Wood Collections at Kew: From Toys to Totem Poles (Part I) by Caroline Cornish, Peter Gasson & Mark Nesbitt

Dr. Caroline Cornish’s research for this article was made possible by the AHRC Cultural Engagement Fund

The Sir Joseph Banks Building at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew on the outskirts of London, is home to one of the most extensive and intriguing wood collections in the world. Here you will fi nd the Economic Botany Collection which includes nearly 35,000 wood specimens. The woods range in size from small reference samples to gigantic planks and cross- sections. In addition many wooden objects collected over the years have ranged from toys to totem poles!

Woods and the Museums of Economic Botany

The history of the Economic Botany Collection is as fascinating as the objects themselves. In 1847 the world’s fi rst Museum of Economic Botany opened in the grounds of the Royal Gardens at Kew. Its founder, William Jackson Hooker, described its audience as not only the scientist, but also ‘the merchant, the manufacturer, the physician, the chemist, the Museum No. 3 – the Timber Museum in the Orangery at Kew (opened 1863). druggist, the dyer, the carpenter and The totem pole can be seen in the centre. cabinet-maker, and artisans of every description’. His aim was to show entrepreneurs and craftsmen the vast range of plant raw materials that were available throughout the British Empire and to provide examples of how they could be used. So as well as wood specimens, the Museum also featured wooden artefacts and manufactured items. By 1910 there were four museums, two of which – the Timber Museum and the Museum of British Forestry – were devoted entirely to woods. The collections grew rapidly through donations and exchanges, particularly from voyages of exploration, world’s fairs, and other research institutes. Museum No. 4 – the Museum of British Forestry (opened 1910) in Cambridge Cottage which now houses the Kew Gardens Gallery. 14 World of Wood May/June 2013 One of the earliest wood accessions Amazon, and Charles Sargent, based of signifi cant size came from Kew’s at Harvard. Kew’s involvement in own Joseph Hooker, son of William, imperial botany means that Britain’s who travelled to the Himalayas former colonial and imperial territories from 1848 to 1851. Joseph brought are particularly well-represented in back 643 woods relatively unknown the Collection; for example, Henry outside the Indian sub-continent at the Ridley at Singapore Botanic Garden time. His specimens are clearly those was a signifi cant contributor. And in of a botanist; the bark is left in place, 1879 Kew received a donation from a transverse section is usually taken, the Indian Forest Department of over and the altitude at which the tree was 1,000 timber specimens. The value growing, carefully noted. Many of of the collection lay in its breadth them, like the Euonymus illustrated, and presentation: each specimen was were to become mainstays of gardens labelled with its botanical name, in Europe and America in the years vernacular name, geographical following their arrival. provenance, and details of uses; in short, they had been ‘accurately determined by its scientifi c offi cers’. They represented a duplicate set of one prepared by the Department for Palmyra palm wood (Borassus the Paris International Exhibition of fl abellifer) collected by Dr. John Kirk on Livingstone’s Zambezi Expedition, 1878 and, with their highly specifi c Malawi, 1864. descriptions - ‘used for house- posts’ or ‘tough, durable, and takes a In the twentieth century, trans-Atlantic beautiful polish’ – language previously exchanges were one of the means by more suited to the timber merchant which the Kew collection continued than to the museum, they represented to grow and extend its geographical a new era in wood collecting practices. representation. In 1930, 500 woods came from the Yale Firestone Expedition of Liberia (1928-31). The woods, collected by George Proctor Cooper, were shared between Kew and Missouri, illustrating the degree of international collaboration which goes to make a world-class wood collection. Again they included species previously unknown, such as Cassipourea fi restoneana and others, like the Amphimas and Klainedoxa genera, which had not been known to occur in Liberia. EBC 3782 Euonymus grandifl orus Wall. with Joseph Hooker’s original Wooden Artefacts label reading: ‘353. Euonymus. Khasya. 5000 ft.’ One of the most iconic artefacts in the Many other nineteenth-century Kew Museums was the totem pole collectors contributed woods, and from British Columbia which can be Kew still holds specimens sent seen in the photograph of Museum by botanist John Kirk from David Massive trunk of Honduras rosewood (Dalbergia stevensonii), labelled No. 3. Carved from western red cedar Livingstone’s ill-fated Zambezi with uses, probably from the British (Thuja plicata), it must have attracted Expedition, Richard Spruce in the Empire Exhibition which took place at Wembley, London, 1924-25 much attention when it fi rst went on May/June 2013 World of Wood 15 display in 1898. The Museum, by up, producing multiple copies of the various stages of its production was showing indigenous uses of woods, same fi gure. Both disc and fi gures called the ‘illustrative series’ and was aimed to inspire new applications. were displayed in the Museum. The used extensively in the Kew Museums. The Museum guide-book gave the technique of showing a product in the By 1987, however, the Kew Museums pole’s age and details of its original were closed and the collections were function: to help keep the ridge pole of data-based and transferred to their the house in place. By doing so it was current location in the Sir Joseph emphasizing the wood’s durability and Banks Building, where they continue suitability as a construction material to grow. In this environmentally- for external use. controlled store, they are arranged At the other end of the scale were the according to the Bentham & Hooker lathe-turned German toys acquired taxonomic system and can be accessed by the Museum in 1862. The toys by researchers and special-interest were Noah’s ark fi gures made of groups. spruce (Picea sp.), and came from the Erzgebirge region of Saxony. For Part II of this article will explore the Kew Director William Thiselton-Dyer recent development and use of the they were ‘a most beautiful example Economic Botany Collection. Further of the economy of labour’. The details of Kew’s wood was fi rst turned to produce a museums can be found at www.kew. large disc, the longitudinal section of German lathe-turned discs and cut org/collections/ecbot. which represented the silhouette of fi gures, as displayed in the 1970s. an animal. The disc was then sliced

The Southeast Regional Meeting ..continued from page 13.

Jerry Zipprich and Garry Roux ran the Duane Keck provided the Mystery There was a talk by Mihaly Czako on silent auction throughout the meeting. Wood ID exhibit to test the knowledge “Woods of China”. Mihaly showed Members had the chance to bid on of the attendees. The ‘test’ species, slides of many trees and woods that he smaller, high value woods and some a hard, yellow wood, was Firmiana encountered on his two visits to China. donated fi nished pieces. Attendees simplex, grown in South Carolina and He shared some cultural experiences exchanged friendly banter around the donated to the Wood Auction. as well. auction table. Garry donated a large cocobolo board for the Pot Shot card. Donald L. Rockwood, Professor Emeritus at University of Florida, Gainesville, talked about selection and genetic improvement of Eucalyptus species as well as promising clones and hybrids for Florida and the Southeast.

Jerry and Garry at silent auction David Mather, dressed in ‘huaso’ (Chilean cowboy) regalia. He has just fi nished reading from his novel, One For The Road, and is explaining the items in his display of the Chilean ‘campo’.

Jerry with burls from all over the world. Donald giving his talk 16 World of Wood May/June 2013 The saw mill area was busy as seemed that the tent would be nearly usual. Some of the wood won in the empty. But the auction started just a auction was cut after the auction to few minutes late because as everybody fi t into the trucks or cars or luggage left the cafeteria it was obvious that of the winners. Vendors were selling one needed more insulation for sitting woodworking supplies. on the steel chairs, more layers of clothing and raincoat for protection from the wet breeze which was almost like wind, and a hot drink to hold onto. Verifying identifi cation of the species and marking the pieces Drawing of the raffl e prizes by Tom were ongoing activities of the several Kinney; Alan Curtis and Ron DeWitt people assisting with the auction as help carry the prizes to the winners.

The Wood Mizer in action. Photo by Jim Ciesla.

Jerry Zipprich in front of a good crowd, Alan Curtis and Nevada Rye assisting with naming and touting the pieces. Sue Ciesla in front of the wood arranged in the auction tent. The Cieslas had to leave before the day of the auction. The larger pieces and boards were left outside. Photo by Jim Ciesla.

Craft Auction items on display.

Jerry Zipprich and his several helpers: Nevada Rye, Garry Roux, Jerry Davis, John Burris and Bob Chastain.

After a very chilly morning the sun the auctioneers took turns. The rain came out and the saw mill area was stopped, the sun came out, but the busy with members sorting, labeling, wind started to pick up and became Nevada Rye touted her jam creations and buying wood or just socializing. and the Roadkill Possum Pie donated uncomfortable after lunch. The auction for the Craft Auction. Volunteers An estimated 90 species of wood wound up early after lunch. Elaine Hunt and Bob Chastain got to taste both as Harry Wheeler the were available in the wood and craft auctioneer watches. auctions. They were donated by The Craft Auction was lively. There members, local or traveling from as far was plenty of time to examine the A good time was had by all. as Oregon, or donated by companies. items before the auction. Some of the The morning of the Saturday Wood items from the crafts competition were Auction was especially chilly, wet, and also donated for the Craft Auction. breezy. Come 9 o’clock and it almost May/June 2013 World of Wood 17 Common Hazel Nelis Mourik #7460 L During winter this shrub is attractive for its abundance of catkins, during summer for its delicious nuts. The wood is hard and white. The botanical name of Common Latin plant name after the Greek Hazel is Corylus avellana L.. The ‘korulos’ = ‘hazel’. The specifi c genus Corylus consists of a total epithet avellana means ‘from Avella’, of 15 species, divided all over the a city in ancient Italy east of Naples, northern hemisphere. Some other were the nut was supposed to be found well known species are C. americana and consumed fi rst. In that area it Longitudinal surface of a Corylus Walter (American Hazel) from eastern occurs frequently. Therefore it was avellana specimen. North America, and C. colurna L. called nux avellana – Avellan nut. (Turkish Hazel) from S.E. Europe fi ne textured and straight grained. It The wood is off white to a very light and S.W. Asia. Corylus avellana is seasons well if cut lengthwise over yellowish brown, often streaked native to Europe and W. Asia, north the pith and end-sealed. Deforming with tslightly darker aggregate rays. to Scandinavia, south to northern and cracking is moderate, as well as Heartwood is indistinct (although in Africa. Another English name is shrinkage. It works well with all kinds some other species such as C. colurna Cobnut. Corylus is in the Betulaceae of tools without risks of breaking out it is distinctly light red). In general family; some place it in the smaller when planing or shortening. It can be growthrings are easily visible, caused Corylaceae family. glued well and sanded to a smooth by tangentially fl attened latewood surface. The wood is not durable and Common Hazel is a large, multi- fi bers. The wood is semi ringporous is easily affected by fungi and wood stemmed shrub, 4 – 6 m high. Stems to diffuse porous. Sometimes there is worms. are erect and much-branched. Leaves a ring of earlywood pores, sometimes are very characteristic, roundish to there is none. Nonetheless pore The shrubs are used as windbreaks and obovate, to 10 cm long, irregularly density is always decreasing near the grown for the delicious nuts. Because toothed to lobed-and-toothed near the end of the growthring, as well as pore of the pliancy of the rods these were tip, heart-shaped at the base, pointed diameters from 40 µm down to 20 used for hoops around crates and at the tip. Male catkins are 3 – 5 cm µm. Perforation plates are scalariform, baskets. They were also used in long, bright yellow when in fl ower counting 5 – 10 bars. Parenchyma is ‘wattle-and-daub’ infi ll in traditional in February, after being formed in apotracheal, diffuse, rarely in groups, half-timbered buildings. autumn of the previous year. Female but not visible through a handlens Water diviners fl owers are inconspicuous, but the and hardly through a microscope. also like to use fruits are the well known hazel nuts, Rays can be divided into two groups: hazel branches. set in a husk about as long as the nut, uniseriate rays and aggregate rays. with margins cut into toothed lobes. The aggregate rays are composed of mainly 2-3-seriate rays, interwoven The genus name Corylus is the old with longitudinal fi bers to only 1 – 3 cells wide. This complex is about 250 µm wide in average and varies in height from 3 – 50 mm or even higher. Aggregate rays is a characteristic feature in the Betulaceae family. The rays are generally heterogeneous with one to two marginal rows of square to upright cells. Ground tissue mainly consists of libriform fi bers and rarely fi ber tracheids. The wood is quite hard, of medium Transverse section of an about 6 cm Lens view of Corylus avellana wood density (600 – 650 kg/m3 airdry), wide stem of Corylus avellana. endgrain. 18 World of Wood May/June 2013 Hemp Nelis Mourik #7460 L Hemp is a plant with a both good and bad reputation. Good for it serves for a strong fi ber, bad for it is the source of hard and soft drugs.

The botanical name for Hemp is The specifi c epithet sativa means Cannabis sativa L.. Some sources ‘cultivated’. Hemp is one of the (GRIN) determine two subspecies: earliest domesticated plants known Cannabis sativa subsp. sativa L. and (before 2000 BC in Egypt, China and Cannabis sativa subsp. indica (Lam.) India). E. Small & Cronq., which also have been seen as independent species. Hemp is an annual, dioecious plant, which means it is a one season plant Subsp. sativa is the industrial hemp Longitudinal surface of a glued up or fi ber hemp, subsp. indica is the and has male and female specimens. Cannabis sativa subsp. sativa specimen hashish and marijuana plant (more The plants of subsp. sativa grow up to of rapidly grown wood. specifi cally only the female plant). 2 - 4 m high (in 3 - 4 months), those Other sources determine three species: of subsp. indica up to 1.5 m. They When planted close to each other (150 C. sativa L. , C. indica Lam. and C. form a central stem up to the top, plants per m2 !) subsp. sativa will form ruderalis Janisch. Many synonyms much branched and the branchlets a long straight stem for a good fi ber exist, too many to list here. Cannabis much leaved with the well known production. In contradistinction subsp. is in the Cannabaceae family. Another palmate leaves counting 5 - 9 lancet indica is planted widely spaced member in this family is Hop, formed leafl ets set in a central spot: Humulus lupulus L. (Recently several the end of the leafstalk. Living more genera have been moved into plants emit a sharp, characteristic the Cannabaceae family, e.g. from the odor. The psychoactive effects are Ulmaceae.) mainly caused by a constituent called tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (besides Hemp’s probable origin is south almost 500 other compounds). In central Asia, such as Afghanistan and subsp. sativa the percentage of THC is India. It has been widely cultivated low (less than 1 %) and therefore also and naturalized for a long time and its psychoactive properties. Subsp. almost anywhere in the world, except indica contains a higher amount of in the tropics and the arctics. Therefore 5 - 20 % THC, especially the female its area of origin is uncertain. fl owering heads, and is therefore used as a drug, but is therefor also The genus name Cannabis is after prohibited to grow in many countries. the Greek ‘kannabis’ for hemp.

Transverse section of a 4 x 5 cm wide Lens view of Cannabis sativa subsp. stem near the base of Cannabis sativa Longitudinal surface of glued up indica wood endgrain. subsp. indica. Cannabis sativa subsp. indica wood specimen. May/June 2013 World of Wood 19 to obtain as many fl owering heads rings and there is no heartwood. Stems It glues well and can be sanded to a around the plant as possible. can grow to 2 - 3 cm across, near smooth, but quite dull surface. For its the base it can be fl uted out to 5 cm softness care must be taken not to take The fi bers used from industrial hemp across. The wood has a diffuse porous off too much when sanding. The wood are obtained from the bark and the look, or vessel groups are formed is not durable; however the bark fi ber outer part of the wood. They grow in whirls. Vessels are oval (radially is highly resistant to microbial and throughout the length of the hemp stretched), in radial groups of 2 and 3, fungal attack. stalk and are among the longest and and in irregularly formed groups up strongest of all natural fi bers. to 6. Their radial diameters are up to The wood is not used, although it can about 100 µm. Perforation plates are be used as an energy source after har- simple. Longitudinal parenchyma is vesting. The fi ber is used for the most not found. Rays are 1-2-seriate, rarely diverse applications, such as paper, 3-seriate and lower than 0.5 mm. textiles, ropes, thermal insulation, pipe The wood has a wide, soft pith, often joint waterproofi ng in plumbing, as becoming hollow after drying. a reinforcement in building materials and in gluing, etcetera. The seeds are The wood is soft and light weight (200 used to produce hemp oil which is a kg/m3 air-dry for rapidly grown wood good source of essential fatty acids of subsp. sativa, 300 - 350 kg/m3 air-dry and is also a drying oil that can be for normally grown wood of subsp. used for fi nishing wood. Another use indica), fi ne textured and straight is the production of hashish and mari- Inner side of the bark of Cannabis grained. It seasons well, but this has to juana out of the subsp. indica female sativa subsp. indica showing fi bers. be done quickly and soon after felling plant fl ower heads and leaves. It is also to avoid fungi staining the wood. It used as a legal The hemp plant forms a woody tissue hardly cracks even when not cut over medicine. all over its stem and branchlets, the pith before. It works easily with all covered by a fi brous bark. The wood is kinds of tools, the loose bark however off-white, and because it is the growth can be a dangerous factor. of one season only there are no growth Books for Sale by Member Ornamental Plants for Subtropical above volume. C.1950's. 8" x 11.5". BMM
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Regions, a Handbook for Reference Condition: excellent. - $15.00 are available: No. 9, 3/27; No. 10, 6/27; by Roland S. Hoyt, Livingston Press, No. 18, 6/29; No. 29, 3/32; No. 30, Anaheim, CA, 1978. Hardbound, Commercial Timbers of Peninsular 6/32; No. 32, 12/32; No, 33, 3/33; No. 7.25" x 10.75", 485 pages. Condition: Malaysia by Lee Yew Hon and Chu 34, 6/33; No. 35, 9/33; No. 36, 12/33; excellent - $4.00 Yue Pun. Contains excellent color No. 37, 3/34; No. 38, 6/34; No. 39, plates of both tangential and radial 9/34; No. 40, 12/34; No. 41, 3/35; No. *EFOUJGZJOH
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views of 53 woods. Published Jointly 42, 6/35; No. 43, 9/35; No. 44, 12/35; Antone C. Van Vliet and Alexis J. by the Department of Forestry and No. 45, 3/36; No. 46, 6/36; No. 73, Panshin, Oregon State University the Malaysian Timber Industry Board, 3/43; No. 82, 6/45; No. 83, 9/45; No. Extension Service, Corvallis, 1976. Malaysia, 1974. Hardbound with dust 95, 6/49; No. 96, 9/50; No. 97, 10/50; 4Pę

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jacket, 8.5" x 12", 137 pages, Condition: No. 98, 6/52; No. 99, 4/54; No. 100, pages. Condition: excellent - $3.00 Excellent. - $65.00 10/54; No. 101, 4/55; No. 102, 10/55; Wood Specimens, 100 Reproductions Trees and Shrubs of the Mediterranean No. 103, 12/55; No. 104, 4/56; No. 105, in Colour, A Series of Selected Timber by Helge Vedel, Penguin Nature 10/56; No. 106, 4/57; No. 107, 10/57; Reproductions in Natural Colour With Guides, Penguin Books, NY,1978. No. 108, 4/58; No. 109, 10/58; No. 110, Introduction and Annotations by H. Hardbound, 5” x 8”,127 pages. 4/59; No. 111, 10/59; No. 112, 4/60; "
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Condition: Good plus. - $5.00 - $60.00 Kendall Bassett Wood Specimens, 45 color plates Tropical Woods Magazine. Yale 1805 58th Street NE including 5 duplicates removed from University, School of Forestry, New Tacoma, WA 98422 UIF
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253-952-4959 approximately 5.5" x 8". Condition for 20 World of Wood May/June 2013 Growth Rings: The IWCS Record Reprinted from May 1958 Bulletin of WOW A FEW NOTES ON WOODS USED FOR VIOLINMAKING The most famous of European vio- the desired and highly prized fi gure of “Tune Spruce” is the close and above linmakers who pride themselves for grain, i.e. a fi ne, regular, curly fi gure all, regular spacing of the annual rings. carrying on the tradition of the great on radial cuts. This fi gure of grain has However, this can also be found once past masters of their craft - such as for always been preferred for the back in awhile in old spruce trees growing instance: Stradivarius, Amatius and and the sides of violins and it is due to in the lowlands. The most important Guarnerius - and whose ancestors have this fact that nowadays, a very regular peculiarity of the true Tune Spruce, been devoted to making violins for curly-grain on quartersawn material however, is the fact that the late-wood many generations and several centu- is always referred to as “Fiddle-back is extremely narrow in comparison ries still use the same classical materi- Figure”. to the spring growth and somewhat als which once went into the making lighter in coloring compared to trees Some trees have curly grain only at the of a highly prized, famous “Stradivari” grown elsewhere. This peculiarity base of the trunk (where this fi gure of violin. It can be considered an es- is restricted to trees growing at high grain frequently occurs when a tree is tablished fact that the old Italian and altitudes where adequate conditions very old due to the enormous pressure Bavarian masters whose handiwork is of climate and soil prevail. It is never on the wood tissues) whereas more still unsurpassed and nowadays worth to be found in trees from other locali- rarely others are curly up to a height a small fortune, had found out by long ties. The characteristic structure of of 10 to 12 feet. The fi gured part of the experience just which woods were wood - close and regularly spaced an- tree is processed into regular “slices” best suited for building a violin. Is it nual rings with narrow late-wood - is both faces of which are exactly paral- a coincidence that the woods they and responsible for the “resonance” which lel to the medullary rays. The reason their successors used, grew in the land in turn infl uences the sound qualities for utilizing only quarter-sawn mate- of their birth? Naturally, in the course of the violin. Naturally, due to the nar- rial is of course not merely a matter of of the last centuries, experiments have row latewood, the specifi c weight of beauty, but fi rst of all to ensure that no been carried on with the object of Tune Spruce is considerably below the warping will take place in case of pos- testing numerous other woods hoping average of Spruce derived from trees sible changes of atmospheric condi- perhaps to fi nd still better materials or grown in other localities. An old and tions since a quartersawn board will at least to discover an adequate substi- very experienced violinmaker with always remain straight. On extremely tute for the rapidly diminishing supply. whom I am acquainted is carrying on rare occasions, old trees of Acer The result was, however, that no other experiments with a view of fi nding a pseudoplatanus show a true birds-eye woods were found which could equal defi nite relationship between specifi c fi gure comparable to the well-known not to speak of surpassing the classi- weight and sound quality. Since these “Birds-Eye Maple” of Acer saccharum cal materials of old which Stradivarius spruce boards also have to be exactly origin. It is, however, well discernible and his contemporaries once used. quartersawn and because they must be from the latter, Acer pseudoplatanus These were Curly Maple (Acer pseu- at least 5 1/2 “ wide and furthermore being more yellowish white and never doplatanus) and the so-called “Tune taking into consideration an average of having a reddish or brown tinge. The Spruce” (Picea abies). The latter is 20 to 30 annual rings to the inch, this annual rings are never so pronounced used for the top of the violin, whereas means that a tree yielding the desired as in sugar maple and the “Eyes” are the maple is used for the back and quality wood must be at least 150 to not quite so prominent and with some- the sides. Now as far as these woods 200 years old. In fact, a tree usually what less lustre. The previously men- are concerned, it is not so much the has to be very much older because tioned slices are roughly cut to the size botanical species which is important when it is young the trunk has branch- of about 16” x 5 ½” being approx. 1” but more than that the location and pe- es all the way down and many years thick at the thickest edge and tapering culiarity of the particular tree. Both the have to pass before these branches die, down to 3/8”. These small boards are Maple and the Spruce of the desired break and are fi nally overgrown by stored and seasoned for many, many quality grow only (with certain excep- layers of straight grained wood. Hence years. In fact, it is not extraordinary if tions) on the slopes of the Italian and the prices for suitable Violin-Spruce a good violin maker uses the material Bavarian Alps; the Spruce generally are very high and it is not exceptional which his grandfather had acquired in occurring at somewhat higher altitudes that for a pair of nice .matched boards his day. Seventy years is considered than the Maple which, by the way, is of superior quality prices amounting a good age for the material and the called “Bergahorn” meaning moun- $50, - and more – have to be paid. longer it has lain, the better it is. These tain Maple in German. It is usually woods, of course, are not stored in the very big, old maples which yield a By Dr. W. Mautz Oberursel/Ts., the open but in perfectly dry rooms. A fi nely textured, slowly grown wood of Groenhoff Str. 17, Germany typical characteristic of the so-called May/June 2013 World of Wood 21 Australian Woods No 45 Flindersia acuminata by Morris Lake #7634 Silver silkwood Derivation: Flindersia honours Matthew Flinders 1774-1814, famous Australian explorer; and acuminata relating to the acute apex of the leaf tips. The sides are somewhat concave as they taper to a protracted tip. Family: Rutaceae. This family comprises 23 genera in Australia. The largest genus is Flindersia with 16 species. The other major woody genera are Acronychia, the aspens, and Euodia, both with six species, Bosistoa and Melicope with fi ve, and Geijera with only four species. These are major structural and cabinet timber rainforest species. Other names: Icewood, Paddy King’s beech, Putt’s pine, maple silk- wood, and white maple. Distribution: Found on the Atherton Tableland, particularly around the Johnstone River area. The tree: The tree grows to 25 metres in height with a stem diameter of 0.5 metres. The stem is not buttressed and is straight and cylindrical. The bark is brown or grey, smooth, but sometimes slightly wrinkled and slightly scaly. The blaze is brown. Leaves are alternate, compound, on branchlets of 3 to 15 leafl ets. The leafl ets are lance-shaped, broader towards the base, gradually tapering to the tip with a narrow, drawn- out point. The sides are unequal. The young shoots and infl orescence, and sometimes the branchlets and undersides of the leaves are clothed with straw coloured hairs, the fi ne hairs often star-shaped. The small white fl owers are carried on branched panicles at the end of the branch- lets. The fl owers have a small calyx divided into fi ve hairy rounded lobes. The brown hairy ovary at its centre grows to a capsule 10-12 cm long, armed with crowded prickles, split- ting into 5 boat-shaped pieces. Each valve contains four fl attened seeds, two on each side, with wings nearly as long as the seed valves.

Wood of Flindersia acuminata The wood is described as silver white with a soft pinkish hue, as compared to the silver whiteness of F. shcottiana. It has an air dry density at 12% moisture of 530 kg/m3. It is an ideal furniture timber, which is of limited supply because of its limited distribution, however it is useful and has been used for decking for sailing ships. It does not come in big dimensions.

22 World of Wood May/June 2013 Australian Woods No 46 Flindersia xanthoxyla by Morris Lake #7634 Yellow wood Syn: Flindersia oxleyana. Derivation: Flindersia honours Matthew Flinders 1774-1814, famous Australian explorer; xanthoxyla from the Greek xanthos (yellow), and xylon (wood). Family: Rutaceae. This family comprises 23 genera in Australia. The largest genus is Flindersia with 16 species. The other major woody genera are Acronychia, the aspens, and Euodia, both with six species, Bosistoa and Melicope with fi ve, and Geijera with only four species. These are major structural and cabinet timber rainforest species. Other names: Long jack and yellow wood ash. Distribution: Grows from the Richmond River in New South Wales to Gympie in southeast Queensland. It grows chiefl y in dry rainforest although it is found in both riverine and littoral rainforest. The tree: Yellow wood grows to 45 metres in height with a trunk diameter of 0.9 metres and is often planted as an ornamental street tree, where it can branch out if not crowded. The trunk is cylindrical and is not prominently buttressed. The bark is grey to greyish-brown and often has vertical cracks. It is scaly and sheds in oblong pieces. The blaze is yellowish-brown and sometimes has vertical stripes. Leaves are opposite, pinnate and leafl ets numbering in pairs of from four to eleven, are often crowded towards the ends of the branchlets. Leafl ets are bluntly pointed at the tip, bright green above and lighter underneath. The yellow fl owers are on loose panicles in the forks of leaves or at the ends of branchlets, shorter than the leaves. The brown woody cap- sules are covered with short blunt prickles and separate into fi ve boat-shaped valves, each con- taining two fl at seeds on each side of a woody partition. The seeds are winged at both ends.

Wood of Flindersia xanthoxyla The wood is pale golden yellow, close grained and does not have distinct sapwood. The texture is medium and even and the grain is sometimes interlocked and has a high surface sheen. The air dry density at 12% moisture is 750 kg/m3. It is easy to dry and collapses slightly with a shrink- age of 3% radially and 6% tangentially. It is relatively easy to work and turns and carves well. It is good for steam bending. It has been used for coach building, railway carriage frames, and for buggy shafts. It is good for furniture, decorative veneer, boat building, carving, oars and skis. May/June 2013 World of Wood 23 Book Review: Some More Chinese Books by Paul van Rijckevorsel #8060 L

Below are a few more books offered by the China Scientifi c Book Service (at http://www.hceis.com/). Atlas of commercial woods in south China, Vol. 1.

A full-color softback (2004), at a page size slightly larger than quarto and of only just over a hundred and ten glossy pages, this is rather ungainly, but the available space has been put to pretty good use. Each wood has two (facing) pages devoted to it, and is illustrated by a distribution map, a picture of the leaf, of the bark, of tree habit, one or two side-grain pictures and a picture of a disk (an end-grain picture, at apparently actual size). If there are two side- grain pictures these are not (usually) of a quarter-sawn surface and a fl at-sawn surface (as would be sensible and desirable), but of two fl at-sawn surfaces, of which one (usually) shows a little more fi gure. Surface preparation is usually all right. The great failing of this book (not counting the lack of magnifi ed end-grain pictures) is that there is so little heartwood shown: most of the pictures are of sapwood. Picture quality is all right, but not great. The book deals with three softwoods and some fi fty hardwoods: these are not all Chinese, but include some imported trees such as fi ve Acacia species. Written by Zhuang Xueying & Sun Jing, in Chinese with Latin and English names, Beijing, China Forestry Publishing House, ISBN 9787503837265, 112 pp.

Structure of main Chinese Woods - scanning electron microscope

This hardcover (1988) is a SEM atlas that obviously has been inspired by the classic The structure of New Zealand woods (1978, long since out of print), and which follows it very closely in set-up. The main differences in the Chinese book (besides it being in Chinese) appear to be its somewhat smaller page size and that the transverse surface (end grain) is orientated correctly with the heartside of the wood towards the bottom of the page. It deals with 126 woods (plus one bamboo), mostly species, but including some that have been identifi ed down to the level of variety. Picture and printing quality are not quite up to the New Zealand example, but, all in all, this is not to be missed by those who enjoy SEM atlases.

Written by Yao Xishen, in Chinese with Latin and English namess, Beijing, China Forestry Publishing House, ISBN 9787503802188, 262 pp.

Anatomical properties and colorized illustrations of important commercial wood species from Hunan in China

This publication (2011) is available either as an e-book (not seen) or as an octavo hardback (on glossy paper). It is bilingual, with the Chinese text (illustrated by color pictures) in the fi rst part of the book, and with the English text making up the second part of the book. There are three to eight photographs per species; almost always there are three macroscopic photographs and three photomicrographs, with the traditional surfaces represented. In addition there may be a picture of the trunk of the tree, a bark picture, or an extra wood picture. So far so good. However, the end grain color photographs are actual size, which is not especially informative. Also, the pictures are smaller than the page size would allow, and this is especially a pity with the macroscopic pictures, which are not great in printing quality, so that details of fi gure are rather hard to make out. To make matters worse, the color photomicrographs show a quite peculiar stain, which is likely to get on one’s nerves very quickly. The quality of the English is passable, but the text is not all that easily readable, in part because of the odd things the authors have measured (and the ways they measured them). This book may be of value as a source of information on Hunan’s local woods (a total of fi fty woods being treated, with an identifi cation key added), but is unlikely to be useful otherwise.

Written by Fang Wenbing & Wu Yiqiang, in Chinese and English, Beijing, Science Press, ISBN 9787030298478, 437 pp. 24 World of Wood May/June 2013 the people. The Kiwis are so polite and warm, outgoing and curious, honest. Remember the States in the fi fties? It’s sort of like that. Not a lot of people or traffi c outside the small cities and towns, safe, tranquil. Plus, they make a good brew.

“...multitude of tree ferns, made us feel like hobbits in search of adventure.” tree ferns made us feel like hobbits in search of adventure — which is only fi tting seeing as “The Lord of the Rings” was fi lmed in New Zealand. David Mather served in southern Chile I originally had planned on writing with the Peace Corps from 1968-70. He in detail about the trees of the South was the most isolated volunteer in his program, and the two years in the Peace Island, but then this article would Corps strongly infl uenced him. Upon become way too long. I have to say, his return, he bought land in Lyme, N.H., and built a cabin in the woods. He has though, that the hikes there among lived off-grid for over forty years. Self- the podocarps, as well as the beeches Red Beech (Nothofagus fusca) burls educated in forestry, he founded a suc- cessful specialty lumber business that sold — Mountain beech (Nothofagus years I’ve been in the New England rare domestic woods nationwide. He has solandri var cliffortioides), Red woods. Without a doubt, the trees traveled extensively, especially throughout Latin America, and returned twice to Chile beech (N. fusca), and Silver beech are spectacular throughout both to do research for his fi rst novel, One For (N. menziesii) — were otherworldly. islands. But, so are the birds and The Road. He and his wife now split their time between Lyme and a small fi shing One forest of primarily red beech had beaches, the mountains and glaciers, village on Florida’s gulf coast. For more more hardwood burls and heavily the varied coastline that goes on information on the book, plus pictures of Chile, please visit the website: www. fi gured boles than I’ve seen in all the forever. Still, what tops it all off, are onefortheroad-mather.com Jerome A. Padrutt, Member since 1947, Still Turning Wood on the Lathe at 92 by Mike Padrutt (Son) My father, Jerome A Padrutt (#1058) senior center calling bingo on Monday now lives in Chippewa Falls, WI. He and Wednesday. spends at least two hours a day in my Jerome bought his Atlas lathe in 1947 shop here at Elm Grove Woodworks. at a local hardware store. His fi nishes He has been a member of IWCS since consist of multiple coats of brushing 1947 since he returned home from the lacquer and hand rubbing with a war. He is 92 years old but he still runs rouge buffi ng wheel. He usually sets up and turns as he acquires the wood, moisture permitting. Lots of friends and some of my customers bring him samples of local woods to turn. Once in a while he actually gets ahead of his supply but we have always managed The large vessel is spalted basswood to fi nd more wood for him to turn. (Tilia), the mushroom topped piece Sometimes when he runs low I will is oak burl with a red oak (Quercus glue a block of walnut or cherry to rubra) base, the small toothpick holder keep him going. He sells some of his and the medium high dark vessel are work and gives some of it away. His staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina), the tall favorites are burl and spalted woods thin light colored weed vase is spalted and anything highly fi gured. It appears maple (Acer), and the dark bowl is as though his diligence with turning his lathe every day. He is a veteran of redwood (Sequoia sempervirens). has been good for him and WW II and is also active at the local his health and longevity. May/June 2013 World of Wood 25 Member’s Listings and Requests Members with wood specimens for sale I have a good range of Euro- pean bog oak wood collection. I am interested in doing some Wood related books for sale. 24 pieces of different ages, swaps. I have 2,200 specimens Contact me for a list. structures and colour.100% 60 x 6 x 90 mm of all sorts Jerry Zipprich #1238 certifi ed, from 200 to 5,500 of imported and home-grown 933 Main Ave. North years old, Size in inches: 0.4 x woody plants. Thief River Falls, MN 56701 2.7 x 5.7 (mm: 9 x 70 x 145). Lionel Daniels #6509 Phone: 218-683-5229 And collections of other sizes, Windy Heights High Cross, E-mail: [email protected] including pens, knife, bottle Foxfi eld, Petersfi eld Hampshire, stopper,dog tag, key tag, UK GU32 1EK I provide a wide variety of blanks, pistol grips, etc Phone: 01730 827472 woods in standard and Igor Mugira #9707, Ukraine other sizes, including blanks 600-plus different kinds of for pens, knife handles, bows, African Wood Specimens: wood specimens precisely pistol grips, etc. I also have Contact me for list of African crafted and labeled, most a lot of highly fi gured snake species available. All woods identifi ed from trees in the wood. from environmentally approved forest. I have woods from the David Persram #2262L sources. USA, Mexico, Brazil, Japan, Persram’s Woods, Crafts, and Pens, 24 Barry James #9380 Australia, and others. Contact Belvoir Court, Bel-Air, Georgetown, Brousse-James & Associates; me for a list. Guyana Ecological & Environmental Services Alan B. Curtis #1132 HL Phone: 592-226-1757 PO Box 1304, Howick, 3290 2370 Douglas Drive, Eugene, Oregon E-mail: [email protected] South Africa 97405 USA Tel/Fax +27(0)33 3304984 E-mail: [email protected] I have a piece of mahogany for Cell: 0828954089 sale to the highest bidder.Har- E-mail: [email protected] I provide wood specimens vested in Homestead, Fla. Web: [email protected] from around the globe, accu- after the ’92 hurricane 14½ X rately dimensioned, nicely 15½ X 23 high. A few very I have two or more specimens sanded and labeled. I maintain minor checks. Will send pics to of more than 700 to 800 differ- a mailing list and send noti- serious bidders. Can deliver ent woods from around the fi cation when new specimens between Mississippi and world in my stock. I would like become available. Contact me Buffalo, S. Carolina, D. C. and to exchange or sell. They are for a list. S. Florida. standard or another sizes. Gary Green #6654L Marven Smith #3363 Contact me for my list. 9923 N 800 E, Syracuse, IN 46567 1256 Moffett Rd, Dieter Becker #6362 E-mail: [email protected] Lucedale, MS 39452-7803 USA 43, Engersgau str., Neuwied, www.woodsbygwgreen.com Phone: 601-947-3014 56566, Germany Over 1,000 different wood E-mail: [email protected] [email protected] specimens from around I have a good range of more I have over 1,000 species in the world. Over one-third are than 400 species of Australian specimen form for sale or specially fi gured like blistered, rainforest and outback woods trade. Many are extras curly, fi ddle back,quilted, bird in specimen size or as egg received over the years so I eye, mottled, burled and over blanks. I will also cut to your only have one of many. Contact 200 species from Vietnam. requirements me for my list and send me Réjean Drouin #3589 Colin Martin #71894 your list. 333, 19 e rue, Québec, Québec, Canada Dorothea Crt, Harristown, Queensland Dennis Wilson #2324L G1L 2A5 Phone : 418-529-5466 4350, Australia 12008 Andresen Dr., South Lyon, MI E-mail: [email protected] Phone: (061) 4635 3697 48178-9109, USA I often have very rare, some E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] times even once-in-a-life- Need the following for some Back Issues of World of Wood time samples available from research: Canarium I can buy, sell and trade back botanical gardens, stock from schweinfurthii, Cotylelobium issues of the magazine. Get the old tropical institutes and own melanoxylon, Eucalyptus missing issues you need import. From some species I nobilis, Hopea nutans, Shorea at $2 each, and less by the year am the only supplier of argentifolia, Shorea fague- or by the decade. Half of all wood samples in the world. My tiana, Shorea johorensis, proceeds go to the IWCS en- list is very interesting for Shorea leprosula, Shorea dowment fund. Issues available the advanced wood collector. smithiana, Shorea superba. from 1948 on, free shipping in Please contact me for a list. Stephen Lovell #9411 the USA. Henk Bakker #6966 L 830 Pineview Lane Richard Kuehndorf #8593 Leeuwerikstraat 23, 2352 ER Leider- Sylacauga, AL 35150 USA [email protected] dorp, Netherlands E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 1-866-RAREWOOD E-mail: [email protected] 26 World of Wood May/June 2013 Regis-tree New members of the International Wood Collectors Society Greenberg, Aida #9776 Harrison, L F #9787 Hessler, Charlie & Jane #9799 & William Kafi g 6 Wills Close 7329 Cape Cod Circle 8347 Delmar Blvd #25 Hilton KZN 3245, South Africa Indianapolis, IN 46250-2752, USA Interests: 1,2,4,7 E-mail: [email protected] University City, MO 63124, USA E-mail: fl [email protected] Recruited by Web Site E-mail: [email protected] Recruited by Barry James Recruited by Burton Noll @ St. Louis Dumitrescu, Adrian & Domnita #9800 Woodworking Show Detwiler, Carl & Evelyn #9788 2396 Debbie Dr 4 Arbor Ct Greenwood, IN 46143, USA Jannusch, Mark & Gayle #9777 Nappanee, IN 46550, USA Interests: 1,4,5 106 W Warren, Box 881 Interests: 1,4 E-mail: [email protected] St Joseph, IL 61873, USA E-mail: [email protected] Recruited by Bob Chastain E-mail: [email protected] Roger Pletcher @ Lake Yale Recruited by Burton Noll @ St. Louis Robinson, Waldo #9801 Woodworking Show Carr, Allen B & Sandy #9789 5605 Birkdale Way 1020 Bee Pond Rd San Diego, CA 92117, USA Andracsek, Claire #9778 Palm Harbor, FL 34683-1407, USA Interests: 1,4,5,6,7 2704 Bluff Creek Ct Interests: 4 E-mail: [email protected] St Louis, MO 63129-5460, USA E-mail: [email protected] Recruited by Mihaly Czako Recruited by Wes Kolkmeier @ St. Recruited by Tom Kinney @ Lake Yale Louis Woodworking Show Andretta*, Angela #9802 Littlefi eld*, Delmont #9790 & Vogt, Pam Carr, Roger & Cari #9779 1630 Parade Cir 161 Old Winkle Pt 101 Perennial Ct. Deland FL 32724, USA Northport, NY 11768, USA O’Fallon, MO 63368, USA E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Recruited by Tom Kinney @ Lake Yale Recruited by Saratoga Show, NY Recruited by Garry Roux @ St. Louis Adams, Jim & Dorthy #9791 Lynch, Jaret & Sarah #9803 Woodworking Show 5 Birchtree St 2 Trap Falls Rd Suite 502 Nappier, Jim & Fran #9780 Homosassa, FL 34446, USA Shelton, CT 06484, USA Interests: 4,5 E-mail: [email protected] P O Box 78, Moro, IL 62067, USA E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Recruited by Tom Kinney @ Lake Yale Recruited by Lloyd Marshall @ St. Peet*, Mark R. & Ellen, R. H. #9804 Louis Woodworking Show Park, Won Kyu # 9792 539 S Sterling Rd Dept of Wood and Paper Science South Sterling, PA 18460, USA Mayer, Ted #9781 Chungbuk National University Interests: 1,2,3,4,5 5277 White Oak Dr Cheongju, Chungbuk,361-763, South Korea E-mail: [email protected] Smithton, IL 62285, USA E-mail: [email protected] Recruited by Bob Robecker E-mail: [email protected] Recruited by Web Site Neeleman, John #9805 Recruited by Wes Kolkmeier @ St. Wood, Willie #9793 203 W 19th St Louis Woodworking Show 3310 NW 91st St Apt 13D Santa Ana, CA 92706, USA Aion, David #9782 Gainsville, FL 32606, USA E-mail: [email protected] 787 Lantern Ln Interests: 2 Recruited by Web Site Olivette, MO 63132, USA E-mail: wwood@ufl .edu Plunkett, Allan & Rosslyn #9806 E-mail: [email protected] Muth,Mary&Simonds,Lawrence #9794 12 Ormsby Ave Recruited by Wes Kolkmeier @ St. 3009 N 24th St Parafi eld Gardens, SA 5107, Australia Louis Woodworking Show Tacoma, WA 98406, USA Interests: 1,4,5 Interests: 1,4,5 E-mail: [email protected] Beilstein, Bill & Terri #9783 E-mail: [email protected] Recruited by Adelaide Timber & 6134 Virginia Ave #10 Recruited by Chuck Ray Working with Wood Show St Louis, MO 63111, USA E-mail: [email protected] Stiles, Eugene #9795 Johnson, Carrie S #9807 Recruited by Wes Kolkmeier @ St. 5638 Judith Rd & Bradfi eld, Brent M Louis Woodworking Show Bokeelia, FL 33922, USA 6622 Michigan Ave E-mail: [email protected] St Louis, MO 63111, USA Baker, Bruce & Lisa #9784 Recruited by Web Site Interests: 4 1910 Scheel St E-mail: carriebradfi [email protected] Belleville, IL 62221, USA LaForge, John & Gerri #9796 Recruited by Mike Short & friends - E-mail: [email protected] 3816 Washington Pike Gateway Group Meeting Knoxville, TN 37917, USA Recruited by Wes Kolkmeier / Garry Interests: 5 Clark, David & Daming #9808 Roux @ St. Louis Woodworking E-mail: [email protected] 406/318 Harris St Show Recruited by Richard Kuehndorf Pyrmont, NSW 2009, Australia Interests: 1,2 Rozak, Dennis #9785 Lemke,David E #9797 E-mail: [email protected] 861 Eichele Rd Biology Dept., Texas State University Recruited by Paul Hinds, NY, USA Perkiomenville, PA 18074-9511, USA 601 University Dr Interests: 1,2,4,5 San Marcos, TX 78666, USA US FWS National Forensics E-mail: [email protected] Interests: 1,2,7 Laboratory #9809 Recruited by Web Site E-mail: [email protected] National Forensic Laboratory Recruited by Web Site 1490 East Main St Christensen, Morten #9786 Ashland, OR 97520, USA 2900 S.W. 22nd Circle #B-2 Doucet,Jacques #9798 Interests: 1,2,7 Delray Beach, FL 33445, USA 421 Rue Principale Recruited by Web Site E-mail: [email protected] Nigadoo, NB, E8K 3P3, Canada Recruited by Web Site E-mail: [email protected] Recruited by Web Site May/June 2013 World of Wood 27 by Ron DeWitt #6037 SU Chinese Scholar Tree or Japanese Pagoda Tree Sophora japonica L. A Perennial Deciduous Hardwood Leguminosae - The Pea Family

Derivation of the genus name, including Hawaii has three native Sophora, is from the Arabic, sufayra, trees and fi ve native shrubs and herbs. a tree with pea-shaped fl owers. The epithet or species name, japonica, Perhaps the most widely distributed is from Japan where this tree was in the U.S. is the naturalized Sophora Fruit cluster (courtesy of Virginia fi rst thought to have been identifi ed. japonica or Chinese scholar tree, Tech) Correctly, this tree is native to China sometimes simply called pagoda tree. well on almost any disturbed site and Korea, introduced into Japan. although favoring well-drained but The tree’s common Japanese name In North America, although preferring damp clay-peat soils. City conditions, probably developed because it was the climate and altitudes of the lower heat, or drought are tolerated at the often planted around Buddhist U.S., the Chinese scholar tree has cost of a slower growing rate. This temples. This tree was introduced adapted well to a variety of soils and tree is hardy from Zones 4 through to Britain by the famous English growing conditions. It tolerates saline, 8 and at its best in full sun or partial nurseryman James Gordon in 1753 alkaline, or acidic, wet or dry. It does shade. and was cataloged by Linnaeus at about that time. This tree should not be confused with the Chinese tallow tree, Triadica sebifera, or the Chinese parasol tree, Firmiana simplex, also both interesting “imports.”

The Sophora’s number about 70 species of trees and shrubs worldwide. Various species are native to southeast Europe, southern Asia, Australasia, New Zealand, a number of Pacifi c islands, western South America, Mexico, the western United States, Florida, and Puerto Rico. The U.S.

A “Quartet “of mature trees. Flower cluster (courtesy of Virginia Tech) 28 World of Wood May/June 2013 become pale green to yellow-green with a tinge of green or interesting in autumn when they fall. Tree stripes of brown. It is tough and buds are very small, hidden in the durable, although coarse-grained, enlarged base of leaf stalks. and relatively light weight. This wood is ring-porous, early-wood is Authors note: It should be noted 2 to 6 pores wide, individual pores that ongoing genetic study is expected to result in changes to the genus and species classifi cation of the Sophora japonica and others in the current Sophora genus.

First blooms on trees begin at 10 to Spring leaves 15 years. Flowers are 0.5 in. (12 mm) long, pea shaped, with fi ve The Chinese scholar tree is described unequal, creamy-white petals in as a medium to large tree, typically upright or spreading, loose, showy growing to 50 to 75 ft. (15 to 23 clusters. Clusters are typically Bark of a mature tree m) in height by 2 to 2.5 ft. (0.6 to 6 to 12 in. (15 to 30 cm) long at 0.75 m) dbh. Spread is often equal twig-ends in late summer. Flowers cannot be separated without a lens. to its height. The open, rounded have a slight pleasant scent, lasting Latewood pores occur in wavy crown of open spreading branches about a month. bands. Tyloses are absent from the becomes irregularly contorted early-wood. Rays are very fi ne, and domed with age. Stems are Fruits of the Chinese scholar tree indistinct without a lens. usually singular but not necessarily are 2 to 3 in. (5 to 7.5 cm) long, Specifi c gravity is about 0.40. straight. These trees tend to be 0.375 in. (10 mm) in diameter, and Weight is 28 lb/cu. ft. (449 kg/m3) long-lived, occasionally to 500 bean shaped with a greenish pod, at 12 percent M.C. Hand or power years. narrowing between adjacent seeds tools perform best with sharp like a string of beads. Maturing in cutting edges. Machining qualities Twigs and branch-lets are smooth, late autumn, the pods turn yellow are considered average. Smoothed olive green with prominent tan and then brown, often continuing to surfaces produce a nice patina. lenticels (breathing pores). Bark hang down in winter. Turning results are quite good and on young stems is pale gray, carving is excellent. Most fi nishes, becoming light gray-brown and Wood of this tree is usually seen including paint, hold well. furrowed into fi brous, interlaced, in shades of brown, sometimes scaly, vertical ridges.

The 6- to 10-inch (15.2 to 25.4 cm) long, bright green, odd-pinnate leaves in this case have 9 to 15 elliptic leafl ets, 1 to 2 in. (2.5 to 5 cm) long by 0.5 to 0.75 in. (12 to 19 mm) wide. Leafl ets are lustrous, maturing from bright to dark green. Leaves are bristle- tipped without teeth, shiny dark green on top, pale and covered with fi ne hairs below. Perhaps because of their unusual, unpleasant odor, leaves are insect free. Leaves Wood specimen of Sophora japonica May/June 2013 World of Wood 29 Wood of this tree and its parts are Japan this wood was chosen to make cancers, usually with combinations of reported to be very toxic, especially the strong, springy, curved handle for alkaloids. if ingested. Good protection for eyes, the traditional woodworkers’ adze, the Demand for the Chinese scholar tree skin, nasal passages, and lungs should Chouna. for most of us does not extend much be used when working with this wood. Sophora japonica is the source beyond its use as an ornamental or of one of the 50 fundamental shade tree. Some is harvested for Because of its showy fl owers, the herbs used in traditional Chinese the character of its wood, usually by Chinese scholar tree is a popular medicine. It has many medicinal collectors or for making knickknacks. ornamental in Europe, Hawaii, South properties, including antibacterial, Africa, and wide portions of the anti-infl ammatory, antispasmodic, Editor’s note: Exceptionally old and southern and western U.S. where it diuretic, emetic, purgative, styptic, large trees, as high as 28 m and up to often serves as a shade tree. In the and tonic. Bark, leaves, fl owers, 458 cm dbh growing in south central Orient, tree buds were a historically fruits, and seeds were used. Examples China, are illustrated in Guizhou Old important source of a brilliant yellow might include a dilution of bark for and Valuable Trees (by Zhang J, Xu L, dye, used and traded around the severe diarrhea, various other parts to & Zhang H, Guiyang City, Guizhou World. Here too, wood from the same adulterate opium, cool blood, control Science and Technology Press, ISBN trees, because of its durability, was bleeding, treat skin disorders, heal 9787806622483). used to construct framing and columns infections, treat tumors and various for homes and places of worship. In

Book Review: Some More Chinese Books by Paul van Rijckevorsel #8060 L

The angiospermous fossil wood fl ora of Wuhan, China

A softback (2005), of less than two hundred pages, of which almost forty pages are of rather sad-looking black-and-white photomicrographs, this is pretty much what it sounds like. The photomicrographs are not completely hopeless and it is bilingual (Chinese and English), so in the right hands it will be of some use.

Written by Qi Guofan, in Chinese and English, Beijing, Science Press, ISBN 9787030157577, 170 pp.

Wood Identifi cation Guide. Flooring

A hardback (2010) of over two hundred and fi fty glossy pages, of a high printing quality (and with a handsome dustjacket). Somebody tried really hard for an immaculate layout, and it does look quite attractive, even sumptuous. Compared to the Color atlas of import timber, there is a lot less information, total, and information density is also lower (lots of white space!). It deals with just over a hundred woods, of which only one is a softwood (Tsuga). Also, this is a much more conventional book. It devotes two pages to each fl ooring wood, with three kinds of picture: 1) a color photograph of an end grain surface at 12.5× magnifi cation, 2) a color photograph of a side grain surface, and 3) three black- and-white photomicrographs (of the traditional surfaces). The chosen magnifi cations of these last would appear to be somewhat less than optimal, but otherwise quality is good. The big issue with this book is that in some cases several woods have been lumped together as being a single fl ooring wood and the reader has to guess which one has actually been pictured. The worst offender in this respect may be the entry for Ocotea spp., which purports to deal with a group of woods including what is now regarded as Chlorocardium rodiei. Other than this, it is a lovely book.

Written by Wang Man & Ye Kelin, in Chinese and English, Beijing, China Forestry Publishing House, ISBN 9787503859458, 252 pp. 30 World of Wood May/June 2013 Wood Meets

Northwest Chapter IWCS to Hold Spring Meeting Mark your calendars! Saturday June 1, 2013, is the date for the Northwest Chapter of IWCS to hold a meeting. It will be at the Adna Grange Hall, at Adna, Washington (near Chehalis).

We will gather at 9:30 am to view exhibits and watch demonstrations. Two of our members will report on their recent trip to Australia to attend the Australasian meeting there, and also tell us about the February meeting at Lake Yale, Florida. Lunch will be available at the Grange. Afterwards a short business meeting will be held. And then, the WOOD AUCTION. Members are asked to donate wood and crafts to raise money for the Northwest Chapter’s activities. This event is always the highlight of the meeting! See you on Saturday, June 1st. Guests are welcome. For further information contact: Alan B. Curtis. Acting Chairman of the NW Chapter; phone 541-345-2571 or e-mail at [email protected]

Great Lakes Fall Regional Meeting Save the Date!

Bring a guest and join us on Saturday, September 14, 2013, from 9:00 to 5:00 at Camp Alexander Mack in Milford Indiana, for a day of fun, fellowship and learning.

Gary Green will be there with his Wood-Mizer sawing logs. You will be able to purchase wood at the saw mill and have it cut to your specifi cations by Gary, or bring your own log and Gary will saw it for you, for a fee. We have turning and carving demonstrations planned and will have lathes available that will allow for some pen making. There will also be some craft projects for those wishing to participate. A WOOD AUCTION along with a craft and miscellaneous wood craft auction will be held. Auctions will begin at 1:00. Don’t forget to bring your wood and craft items for display, and for the auction.

Early Bird Registration, by August 15th , is $16.50 per person. This includes morning coffee and doughnuts, as well as a delicious noon meal prepared in the camp kitchen. The registration fee starting on August 16th is $20.00 per person.

Make your checks for Registration payable to Roger Pletcher. Send them to him at: 58775 Co. Rd. 7 S, Elkhart, IN 46517-9227. For more information call Roger 574-293-1290 or e-mail him at [email protected].

Camp Mack is located a little over a mile E of State Road 15, just south of Milford, IN. See www.campmack.org for a map and detailed driving directions.

September 16 - 21, 2013 AstralAsian Meeting , Beechworth, Victoria, Australia. See the IWCS website for AstralAsian Registration Form Contact Harry Dennis: [email protected] Phone: 61(0)260208637

May/June 2013 World of Wood 31 International Wood Collectors Society NON-PROFIT c/o Bill & Myrt Cockrell ORGANISATION 2300 West Rangeline Road U.S. Postage PAID Greencastle, IN 46123-7875 Greencastle, IN Permit No. 8

IWCS FUND RAISER: Turned Vase with inset antler on the rim. Things I know about this project: Pat Powers was “volunteered” to head up this project. The vase was turned by a well-known turner, Galen Carpenter for $1200. (I have the original receipt if you want to question the value.) This vase was originally in Bob Lamb’s collection and donated to IWCS. The fi nish is excellent, the wood is beautiful, it is signed by the artist, there is a felt pad ring on the bottom, it has a section of what the original log looked like as part of the base, and it is very unique. There is a Moose antler rim at the top, The wood came from a Common Screw Pine (Pandanus utilis) tree originally located at Fairchild Gardens in Florida. The tree was blow down by Hurricane Andrew. Several different pieces of downed wood (not this one) and fi nished pieces of art from Fairchild wood have been in the auctions at Lake Yale over the years. The log from which this vase was turned, originally sold for $1500 at the storm sale in Fairchild Gardens. When you examine the base, there is a very pronounced groove that turns counterclockwise and spirals up the trunk like a screw. If you look at it upside down, it goes clockwise and could screw the tree into the ground during high winds. This must not be the case, since it fell down in high winds. I have found several pictures of the tree on the internet. You can be the next owner of this work of art of as little as $5.00!!! Tickets are $5.00 each or 6 for $25.00. Send check made out to IWCS and mail to: Pat Powers 9923 Blue Springs Rd. Harrison, TN 37341. E-mail: [email protected] for any questions you may have.