Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1926-12-08
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Dye Injected in Live Trees Perme-
ateS Wood.

ates Wood.
The outcome of the experiment in
dyeing standing hardwood trees
which was tried near Machias last
spring has demonstrated beyond a
doubt the feasibility of the under
taking and Alfred X. Ames, man
ager of the Machias Lumber Co.,
which was responsible for the ex-
pertinent, states that it is only a
matter of systemizing the boring OF
the holes and the injection of the
dyes, to do away with the time
factor, which is very expensive in ex-
detrimental work, before the process
will have great commercial value.
Mr.. Ames is very enthusiastic
over the novel method OF coloring
wood and is very proud OF the col
ored lumber which he has, the first
in the United States. The trees
were cut a short time after the dye
ing took place and were hauled
here, where they were sawed up in
to lumber at the Machias Lumber
Co.'s mill, and are now being sea-
soned preparatory to be manu-
featured in novelties.
The experiment took place on a
section of land owned by the Ma
chias Lumber Co., on the "Air Line"
road between Bangor and Calais, in
the vicinity of Main River Camps,
about thirty miles from Mach1as,
where there is a beautiful hardwood
growth. A German chemist, Fritz
Won Behr, developer of the process
and inventor of his patent dye, was
ho
sisted by Karl F. Switzer, of Ma
chias, and Gerald S. Wheeler of
Bangor, two forestry students at
the University of Maine.
The coloring of trees had been
done successfully in Germany, and
the experiment as tried out here
to see if the same results would be
gained on trees growing in differ
ent soil and with a varying degree
of hardness and density. It was
found that one place is as good as
another, for the results were the
same. Beech, birch, maple and pop
lar trees were used.
The dye injected, into the tree
penetrates to every part where the
flow of sap takes place, or to all
living parts of the tree. A supply OF
dye is lied" to the tree, until the
leaves have turned red, blue, black,
orange, or any color as the case may
be.
It takes about four days for a
large tree to become colored and in
that time the tree will take up about
100 gallons of dye, the amount vary
ing with the size of the tree. This
dye penetrates the fibres and tissues
and is not soluble, and with age
becomes harder. The foliage Will
wither and drop off, but the follow
ing year the tree will produce the
ordinary leaves, as one years defoli-
alton will not kill the tree, and the
hardened dye in the elements OF the
wood will not be affected by the
flow of sap. However, in all proba-
bilities, trees that had been colored
would be cut shortly, as the reason
for dyeing is to obtain the wood for
manufacture. The uses to which
this unusual wood can be put are
of a wide range and include violins,
umbrella handles, brush backs, paper
cutters, powder boxes, vases, put-
tons, cigarette cases, candle SUCKS,
or practically any article for which
hardwood is used
The interest caused by the ex-
pertinent was wide spread, letters
being received from as far away as
California requesting Information
regarding the dyeing and numerous
narties visited the scene OF opera
ton, and saw for themselves what
was being done.
The colored lumber which Is here
drying out is proof enough that the
undertaking was a success, and IN
time will mo doubt be carried out In
larger scale.