Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1921-02-10
Black Walnut Regaininv Pc

p,, Opu!arity
Black walnu, which in tn. ~ w.
part OF the nineteenth century ,. after
placed by oak as a fayor;.' "as is
wood, bias returned to popular, ,-:.a.'
beautiful wood, with il, his
figured effects, is especialy ,-..-'Tfol
the dienified designs USED in ne 81. 10
er and more attractive f7..- "sni'
IN common use. nv
Besides its appearance b,,-.
has other qualities which M, -'Hu'
'icularly good for furni,r- Par
facture, according to the Fo-... manu.
vice. United States Depar,~s,.' 81,
agriculture. These qualities ' Of
forth in Department Bulletin Sc set
which deals with the u,i,iz,.. wy
black walnut, its properties, su1, ,,,' Of
mand, methods of marke,ios =, ~
ability for the making of ven --sp',
other uses. --'' AMI
The wood is described o. h..
hard, strong, and stiff. Coos a. fa',
absorbing ability" is specified ~ ~. "'
its valuable qualities for s~,b ~.
poses as furniture. Other good .a t|'
are that it does not shrink evoos Fa."H
in seasoning, is susceptible Of "'y
polish, and takes stain and o,be- ~
ishes exceedingly well. "
In 1918, about 1OO,OOOOOO ho,..,
of black walnut was turned or h. y
sawmills. DUNG the war -.
mondous demand for black walnr, ~"
created by requirements for pun s,,,L'
and airplane material. In conseors,.s
the country was combed 10 dscors'
o!acK walnut trees. Discovery v,,
made OF large supplies which M -,
supposed were in existence AMI ,-.a,
were utilized that had been co,s:4..
ed unfit for commercial PURPOSES
AS a result of this stimulus to -,
duo.ion, large stocks were left IN b.,.
at the close of the war, much of which
was IN the form of logs requiring n l.
turned into manufacture as 2 saliva.
measure. Temporarily, the marka, -.
black walnut has been depressed by
the accumulated supply, but owners a,
these valuable trees need not he l;s
couraged, the Forest Service states
by the low prices that have resulted
from this cause. Standing timber IN.
like most crops, can wait for fsvor.
able market without deterioration. and
usually is growing while it waits.
Black walnut trees grow naturally
over a large area, extending from
southwestern New England to central
Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma. and
Texas. Some regions in this area are
unfavorable for its growth. for black
walnut thrives best on soil that is rich
moist, and deep, but not wet. It i.
roughly estimated that in this are,
there is now standing approximately
S2l 100000 board feet, Of the chief
commercial regions, that known as
the lllinois-Missouri-Iowa region is
the most important. The Kentucky.
Tennessee-North Carolina region ranks
second, and the Ohio Indiana region
third. On the agricultural lands Of
the latter, walnut seems to reach It's
best development and has the reputa-
ton OF being the best so far as the
soundness and texture of the wood
concerned.
On account of the scarcity and high
cost OF walnut logs they generally are
utilized very closely. In making veneer
the maximum use is obtained of logs
that are suitable for the manufacture
OF this product, for from each board
foot of logs 20 square feet of veneer
can be made. At present there is
depression in the walnut market along
with other wods, but under normal
conditions owners can still dispose OF
their trees to good advantage TO lum.
Der manufacturers, and especially TO
those manufacturers who are equipped
to make both veneer and lumber.