Elms share similar qualities

ELM TREES are found all over -rhe norrhern hemisphere with the white elm (Ulmus americana\ in the eastern half of the United States and Canada and the rock elm (Ulmus thomasi) in the eastern regions of both countries. The English, Dutch and wych elm of Europe as well as the nire from Japan also are important.

As a wood, elm has acharacteristic appearance. The growth ring figure is prominent with coarse texture and an often irregular grain. The wood is pale brown, sometimes with a reddish tint, although wych elm has a greenish cast. The white elm timber tends to resemble English elm with a straighter grain. The wide sapwood is pale, but the heartwood is the typical elm brown with a reddish tinge.

Rock elm which has no distinction between sapwood and heartwood is light brown. With a straight grain, it has a finer texture and a greater strength and density than the white elm. It averages about 49 pounds per foot in the seasoned condition as compared to 38 pounds per foot for the white elm.

White elm seasons readilv with medium shrinkage while the rock elm is inclined to check and twist with high shrinkage. Generally, elm is not particularly strong nor stable.

All elm is classified as non-durable, subject to fungal attack. It does not take preservatives readily. However, the wood has a long life in

Story at a Glance

Elm grows in many countries unstable, lacking durability . . . tolerates water well . . widely used in cooperage industry.

waterlogged conditions. It is good for structural uses where it is permanently wet. The famous Rialto structure in Venice is said to stand on elm piles. Rock elm has been a long time favorite for dock and wharf constructions, ships' fenders, bent frames of small boats, stringer, rubbing strips and belting. Its use in boat building has declined because of its susceptibility to decay.

Rock elm is fairly hard to work by hand but is satisfactory in machining, finishing clean and smooth. It has good nailing and screwing properties and takes stain, varnish, paint and polish well. White elm works in a similar fashion except for being inclined to a woolly sawn surface. Both woods are good for steam bending.

White elm is used extensively in both the U.S. and Canada in the slack cooperage industry for staves, heading and hoops. It also is used as veneer for cheese boxes and other veneer products. Some is used for furniture, caskets and agricultural machinery. It is frequently used as a substitute for rock elm although it is not as tough or shock resistant.

distribution of redwood, douglas tir, pine and specialty products

P0RTLAl{D Wholesale Lumber Association selected Bob and Carl Kuhl, brothers with a total of 102 years in the lumber business,9l of which were spent building their own business, Carl Kuhl Lumber Co., as Lumbermen of the Year for 1982. (1) Robert Kuhl (lefl) accepts the plaques for himsell and his brother, who was unable to be present, from Dave Blasen. (2)Al Kirnak, JoAnne Meldorf (3) Paul W. Frederickson, Carman Wall, Bill

Derck, Lyn Rabun. (4) Tom Murdock, Jay Mercer. (5) Dave Repp, Boyd Canoy, Oddvar Nass, Bob Fox. (6) Ralph Hull, Jim Martin, Chet Cowan. (7) Jim Evans, Alan Johnson, Jim Hildahl, Bill Hayes. (8) Larry Kirk, John Brazier. (9) Jack Donovan, Wayne Holme, Mitch Conley, Floyd Hambelton. (10) Tim Todd, Gene Zanck, Robert Hasselblad, Judy Lambie, Ted Fullmer. (11) Paul Brooks, Harvey Hettield, Rick Schaefer. (12) John

Dimelino, Gerrv Feaver, Tom Fanis, Don Dye, Jiir Tallei. (13) Mike Acker, Darrell Pardee, N.C. Nelson, Chuck Young. (14) Craig Broady, Mike Fery. (15) Greg Thelen, Neil Worf , Paul Streight, Don Renwick, Bill Kreiner. John Pein, pres., J.V. Torgerson, v.p., and JoAnn Meldorf , sec.-treas., are off icers of the group which has held this December gathering each year since 1937.