The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1908-01-30
An Investigation Of Moods.

All llNUo''9u''o
w,su1NGToN, Jan. ~. 1t is doubt
-. if anv of the laboratories maintain
49,, tine government for scientific re-
...a are more unique in character,
"a VET bear promise of more lmpor-
rssu'ts, than one which has just
established in Washington by the
y ted states Forest Service for inves-
+,gtre structure of commercially
...r,aut WOODS.
,mrn will not understand the
a,auee of the proposed investlga-
,.... rTripd on in this laboratory so
....., AS architects, builders and
.., wood users, who in these days of
..--l scarcity of the more valuable
are seriously perplexed in identi
'.. substitutes. Mistakes of this
- Identification have, in the last
... ...g>. in several instances, meant
of thousands of dollars, and
.I 5trraSsing law suits.
any user of lumber can recog-
.a name off hand, all the usual
tie forest when he sees them
and not much difficulty is en-
III identifying the common
..uber in IA mill yard because
h 1al "a
..uel comes. But common kinds
vl4 scarce, and woods not
heretofore, are appearing IN
...ts. The most experienced
~ametimes puzzled when they
.-Jtliv them, and persons with
renee have still more trouble.
wood. gum or elm? Is an
uber, linn, or poplar; is a
maple orred maple? Doubts
whether a piece is hemlock
or whether it is lodgepole
r or whether a single is cy
edar \ dealer may buy red
INSPECT that he is getting some
There are thirty or more
.. species of oak. The best
-ttpr might not know which is
the lumber pile, or If he
might not know how to
tuese woods look alike, even
g. lued eye of the miilman or the
and vet they are widely differ
..gr for certain purposes, and
greatest Importance to be
5tluguish them quickly and
.... Again. new wood may
mans notice for the first
1t may be necessary for him
...r what it is and what it is
r-ument has been helping in
amber users for some time,
.. HIljtles have not been nearly
rle as they are now. 1t is to
.. needs and answer such ques-
.. at the Forest Service has es-
the laboratory, and placed 1t
of a trained dendr0logist
as. lumbermtn, manufacturers
.. ...s-Is OF woodward are already
samples of wood for identl-
t- asking ii there are not
-... ...-tlral characters by means
woods may be convenient
.. for relative species having
... less value for some specific
boratary Wi. investigate i'll a
g.. .0 way. The structure of the
sections ,eugthWiSe and cross
be studied SO as to separate
lie alone the various species
t.- LIS Aualy teal keys to the trees
1 .. group vii! be worked out.
|.... ur BASED on the arrangement
a. atc-el IT the pores discernlble
0uaed eye. or 10y hand lens.
En-. a,.u.Js viii be published from
ure with good illustrations and
lie disposal of lumber users.
t the important groups of wood,
sd. a.. uak5, pines and frs, have been
and the results published sep; :
he several monographs will be
and published in enc volume.
.ls Of this character has long
a- inland by architects, builders
49, users of lumber 1t will, in
g. .,. enable even a non technical
.y.ri man to determine quite
i-l ae wood he deals with by
4' ~ ordinary hand lens and by
~ An.- the wood in question with
aF graphs of cross and long sec
" va IN these monographs.