Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1922-10-20

Group OF Hickorics-Piqnut in the c.
County, I
Pr-pa".d by tho Un.t"a States Department
or ASricultu;e.)
Hickory timber, although held In
seemingly vast amount by the forests
OF the country. may soon become in.
sufficient to meet American manufac-
turing and woodworking needs. The
increasing demand for this valuable
species. together with the scattered
character Of its growth In the forest,
has resulted In merchantable stands
becoming more and more inaccessible
and difficult to log.
Stands Are Widely Scattered.
The Forest Service, United States
Department OF Agriculture, puts the
country's present supply Of hickory.
distributed through 2OO,OOOOOO acres
Of forests, at 1854, 100000 board feet.
or this the Central states have 1,19l.-
OOO,WO feet, the lower Mississippi
states Sill ,OOO,0O0 feet. the South At
lantic and East Gulf states 3,lS3.NO.
UO feet. the Middle Atlantic states
4l2.rH.Mo board feet. the lali. states
lSI.,5n.Win ir"t. ana The New En@iund
states -iO.AsiOnD feet
tnr of the Uses lo which !,i,.lury is
put is the manufactu". - >i',I,r~ :nr
Hu;"m"hiLo wheels. T." yearly H.
lu;.!Il upon the hickory rr,-"yr~ hy
;i.S Industry aionr j. ir,.Il,rii,I.,, ~
,,.r"" i m'ir!. Waste. in .u;l:M& ia,
select stock ucc,.s>:l! nuI "uiy for
>!'"i"$ hul also The rims Of Wh""l<.
Industries Compete for Hickory.
For i'!t. most part vehicle Hnd igti-
cultural Implement industries c"niin.ir
with rhe handle industry for hirNHry
ant ash. These are located mainly ia
tn" Middle West hut now derive mos;
at their wood supplies from the Snt.,!:
\ large number al far-Si"hted organi-
cations purchased more or less extern
Siv" hardwood tracts some wears ago
from which they are nnN able To hra"
ut least II part OF their wood supplies.
TO secure hickory. which grows seat
teringly over large areas. the vehicle
snd vehicleimplement industries orig
inalIy maintained extensive buying.
logging. and milling organizations in
the South. They draw upon every con-
ceivable Source-farmcrs' woOd-lots
small mills large sawmillS. and even
specialized operations designed to Sc
cure hickory alone. These concerns in
general carry in stock about two
years supply OF special-dimension
STOCK. -'
Makers Of automobile wheels say
that they con still get the material
required II they make sufficient effort
and pay the price, but it is necessary
TO go farther and farther away for 1t.
Many inquiries received by the forest
service from vehicle implement MAX
e.s, requesting information on possible
substitutes for the woods used in ve
hicle making, is merely another indica-
tion OF the difficulties in getting ade
quate supplies at the present time aud
Of uncertainty as to the future.
Ten Different Kinds Of Hickories.
Hickory is often referred to AZ if it
were Il single species. like red gum or
yellow poplar. In reality there are 10
different kinds Of hickory trees. For
lhcknry-handle purposes those kn1Wn
IL t"lIr hirkorir$ are most VALUABLE"
THE pecan hiCkOri"S include the wafer.
NUTMEG and bitter nut varieties. The
true hirkOric$ comprise ShaghalE. ,,.E
Shrll,hrk, pignut. and mo"k"r mt.
The bundle industry is largely heprni-
ent on this last group of trees for its
raw material.
Til" annual consumption nf hickory
by the handle trade is something over
12O.OOO.OOO feet board measure. Little.
IL any. Of this material passes through
the Sawmills. for it is ordinarily cur
and shipped TO the handle factories in
the form Of log bolts or bllletS. All
hirk cries do not give the same service
VIXEN made into handles. The various
parts Of the same tree Ihay show DIFF
ferent properties, and the quality Of
the wood near the center Is quite likely
to differ from that nearer the bark.
The wood Of the butt Of young
hickory tree Is Of greater average
toughness than II Is when the tree Is
old. The wood Of butt cuts Of both
old and young trees Is tougher than
that cut higher up the trunk. The
part. demand econd-growth hickory,
which consists Of young stock Of rapid
growth.
Best Material for Handles.
Hickory is the best known material
for certain classes Of foot handles.
\ such ~ he OK, adj, pick, hammer, and