Willow, a surprising Southern hardwood

1| LTHOUGH willow usually f,brings to mind a vision of fishing along a babbling stream or relaxing with a pitcher of lemonade in a shady bower, the species Sa/rx nigra is important as a commercial hardwood in the South.

Because the trees grow in remote overflow areas and new land formed along rivers, they often are accessible only by boat. Many people who regularly handle and use willow lumber have never seen the trees growing.

Only this black willow grows large enough for commercial use. The tree usually reaches a height of 130 feet with a diameter of three feet. Willow timber trees grow tall and slender with round heads and open tops. The first branches often are 60 feet from the ground. Although the trees sometimes are found growing with cottonwood, cypress or tupelo, the best quality timber comes from pure stands, the most common.

The bark, leaves, twigs and wood of the willow are different from all other hardwoods and interesting from a botanical view. The leaves are long and narrow with a sharp point on the ends, a fine serrated margin, and short stems. The average length of the leaf is four inches with a width of Yz inch. Some leaves (falcata, Torr. variety) are shaped like a scythe. The bark which is one to I % inches thick, is dark brown, sometimes tinged with orange. It has broad, flat connecting ridges which separate into plateJike scales. These become shaggy on older trees.

The wood color, which varies a great deal, ranges from dark reddish, to dark purplish brown like walnut, to gray, or a mixture of all three. Sapwood is usually pale tan or almost white. These colorations make the wood ideal for paneling where a natural wood character is desirable. Willow takes and holds glue better than any other known wood to rate an A Number One. It also remains flat, resists warpage and shrinkage. It is very light, 2800 pounds per thousand feet, but very strong. Soft, it works easily and does not split in nailing or screwing.

Because of its properties willow is perfect for glued-up core stock, table tops, and panels. It also is excellent for artificial legs. Canada imports

Story at a Glance

Fast growing . . . thrives in remote overflow areas of the Mississippi River and its tributaries good commer. cial properties . . . important lor furniture, paneling.

large amounts of Southern willow for furniture. Caskets, shipping boxes, interior trim, doors, panels, and miscellaneous wood products are made of willow. Because many people do not associate willow with strength and beauty, manufacturers often call the wood by its classical name, salix.

Louisiana, according to forest surveys, has the largest volume of willow saw timber. Arkansas is second with Mississippi third. Most of this estimated 1.5 billion board feet of standing willow saw timber is along or close to the Mississippi River and the lower reaches of its major tributaries. Production levels vary substantially, but average between 40 and 50 million board feet per year.

The willow tree is a rapid grower. Young stands reach maturity so quickly that lumber operators consider willow holdings as permanent sources of supply. Many areas have been cut four or five times in the last 50 years. Since willow timber land is low and wet, it can be used for virtually little else. The willow's rapid growth enables it to survive in the continually changing environment of Southern river sand bars, islands, ox bow loops and ox bow lakes caused by constantly shifting channels. The trees, which grow on these shores and bars as they form and help to establish them, are soon of merchantable size.

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