The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-03-24
SOUTHERN WOODS
Where They Grew and Some Of the
Uses TO Which They Are Put.

The Pine and the Cypress Not the
Only Products of the Southern For
est5 That Are in Dramatically,
Magnolia, Dogwood and the Persim-
mon All Valuable Woods and Widely
Used in Commerce.
A diversified production of articles of
commerce in the country is bound to help
the city which is the natural geographi-
cal and commercial outlet. Thousands
Of farmers and country men are sur
rounded with numberless products Of the
fields and forests. They have, however,
little knowledge or IDEA what these pro
ducts are good for and their value When
the wealth OF southern forests is spoken
of, it is generally understood to mean
pines. oaks or cypress, while in fact,
there is an endless variety of other woods
that are in better demand and bring far
better return than the staple woods.
Mr. G. B. Warrand who has given con-
siderable study to the various southern
woods gives some interesting facts con
corning them.
a class of eyergreens such as the mag
nOlia and holly which grows in abund-
anCe is Of large commercial value if they
are felled at the proper time Of
the year. This variety of wood
has no heart ana there is
no waste beyond the bark and the pith.
The wood is of creamy whiteness, and
its main value is that no matter how thin
the lumber is cut it will not warp or
twist with changes of the atmosphere.
USED IN PIANOS.
The holly is the only wood employed in
making the mechanism Of pianos and or
gans, and probably no other wood en-
ployed in manufacturing increases as
much in value as the holly does. Eight
feet of the trunk of a medium sized holly
will make several mechanisms of pianos
worth several hundred dollars.
Maryland, Virginia and states in this
latitude have been deprived of their
growth of holly, and it is now very
scare and expensive wood. Ten years ago
it sold in Virginia at $3.50 per cord, it is
now sold by the block, and is as eXpen-
sive as black walnut.
There is hardly "a swamp or hammock
in Georgia, Florida and the Carolinas
which has not more or less holly with
diameter from to 10 inches. One pre-
caution, however, must be observed,
namely, it must be cut after frost, while
the sap is down, otherwise it will mildew
ana become utterly worthless.
MAGNOLIA WOOD VALUABLE
The magnolia'tree, attaining large d.
mansions, and a diameter of three and
four feet, is one of the best known woods
for wood engraving, for wood cuts used
in printing. To become merchantable it
must be sawed cross grain in tablets or
disks of an inch or two in thickness, like
holly, it must be cut while the sap is
down, as it will otherwise milldew.
When magnolia is properly prepared
] If will command lgrua 1,rioac in +bago
! days of illustrated daily papers, there is
large demand for it, magnolia gives a
! very clear cut and is soft enough for en-
| craving, while ii wears well in printing
| 1t is of creamy whiteness, and never
! warps after seasoning.
| THE USES oE lockwood.
| Another variety of wood which is of
much value, which also must be cut while
! the sap is down, is dOgwoOd. 1t is the
| only wood that has given entire satisfac-
tion for making shuttlecOc1s for looms.
1t is hard, takes a good polish, and can
be kept in motion in looms for a number
| of years without any perCepJible wear.
| The dOgWOOd is cut in lengths of Is to
% inches, it should be at least inches
in diameter, it is then cut in square
blocks l$lX2X21l inches square for CORES
! pOnding lengths of Is. 20 and p inches,
| each block will make from two to three
! Sli utt4tNONhS, bu6SC UIOCAS III uSJ De Cl6dt
of knots, shakes or pith, a small vein
edge does not hurt. The price that dog
wood in this shape will bring, will range
from $50 to sl20 per 1000 square feet in
the United State.
FOR BOOT AND SHOE LASTS.
PersimmOn wood, which is so album
dainty scattered everywhere, is the best
material for shoe lasts. 1t is hard, and
will stand more mailing or pegging than
any other wood.
The pcrsimmon tree belongs to the
ebony tribe hence its hardness and tough
ness, should the south ever manufacture
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