Beech has many uses, including beer

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amajor hard-

from the American beech tree (fagus grandifolia) has many good qualities and adapts to many uses including furniture because of its excellent finishing characteristics and light color.

The tree is a slow grower, requiring nearly 200 years to reach saw timber size (14-16 inches) in the colder climates of the North. In the South with longer growing seasons, this time is cut by about 5090. Beech grows inevery state Eastof thecreat Plains except Minnesota and Iowa.

Some of the best stands are found along the lower Ohio and Mississippi Rivers and on the slopes of the Allegheny Mountains, from New York and Pennsylvania, southward to the Gulf States. In the Southern states it grows only in the well drained areas.

Beech growing in forests commonly reach 100 ft. in height with a trunk diameter of three feet or more. The trunk stands out because of its thin, smooth, steel gray bark. Many wild animals use the beech nut as a staple in their diets. The oval leaves have sharp pointed ends with edges serrated like a sawblade. Dark bluegreen in color, they turn yellow before dropping in the autumn.

Beech wood ranks in hardness between sycamore and hard maple. It is dense with a diffuse porous structure and numerous pith or medullary rays. The heartwood is reddish color while the sapwood is pale, giving the wood its light color. Because it is similar to sawn sycamore in appearance, some people have difficulty identifying beech after it is cut.

Slow grower . found in almost every state East ol Great Plains . hard, dense with good properlies.. takes finish well moderate price.

Beech shrinks considerably and requires careful drying to avoid distortion and splitting. Improved drying techniques have made it possible to make use of themany favorable qualities of the wood. It has above average planing and shaping qualities. Because it takes a finish well and can be bleached to blend with certain face veneers, it is a popular choice for furniture. It also is used as flooring, usually in gymnasiums, factories and commercial structures because of its moderate price. Other uses include handles, woodenware, bent wood parts and toys.

A unique market for beech chips is the beer industry where they are used in the brewing and aging process. Reportedly the brewmaster of a popular beer will use only beechwood chips from a limited geographical area in the South.

Although beech in this country has been relatively unimportant because of the many other hardwoods available, its moderate price, good working properties and hard surface make it adaptable to many uses.

SALES OPENING: No. Ca. sawmills and remanufacturer. National market. Background in cedar or redwood preferred. Excellent benefits. Write Box 451 c/o The Merchant Maeazine.

NEED INSIDE salesmen for hardwood lumber and plywood. Some experience helpful. Good So. Ca. location. Well established company. Fringe benefits. Write Box 449 c o The Merchant Magazrne.

EXPFIRII.NCED grader & tall) man ior hardriood lumber yard in Huntington Park, Ca. Call (ll3) 5E3 8923 for appt ll litrt srilritrtt ttt .t /trlrt(r'r,'/ ,/(/(/rr'\\ /)/('il\( ttlt itttjl :tl) tt)tlt' t)tt tLttit rtl,l Jtttl ttt'tr ,rrlr/rr'rst'i dttl tt!ittr titi ,ti,i itbti lr tlt. ntlt)rDtilltt)il lrLtttl ti T itttti,s'

EXPERIENCED lumber sales person neededindustrial salessoftwoods and hardwoods. Commission, excellent fringes. Contact Dennis Kirk. Southwest Forest Industries. (21 3) 330-745 l.

\Ierchant \Iagarirrt. {51}(l ( anrpus I)r \uitt {ll{1. \r'rport Bcaclr. ( a 9266{l Make chccks pa)rhl. 1() The \lerchant \lagazine. \larl eopr to rborc ltcldrcss or call (711) 519-t3-]9-1. l)catilrnc lirr eolrr is thc 22nd ol tht nror.tth. PAI l\IENT Mt ST AC]C]OMPANY COP\"

LEADING SKYLIGH'I' MIGR. secks distributors and rcprcscntatiles in the I I Western statcs lo carr) oilr cornplete line o1 iustom and standard skllights. Desire retail lumber dealers, mass merchandisers and glass houses as outlets. \\'e manutacture in Scattle artd So. Ca.-contplctc nranufacluring facilities. Contact Tom Philips, cr'o Pfeiffcr Skl light, 801 So. Acacia Ave., Fullerton, Ca. 92631. (71,1) 773-1051.

EXPERIENCFII) pallet salesman, Ask for Carl Boesch, Huntcr Woodwork:, (213) lr5-25{'1.

Dimension lumber, studs, timbens to 4O'. Unitized

Sawmills located at Molalla, Tillamook, Toledo and Clackamas, Oregon, with shipping via SP, truck, ocean barge and fon export.

LOCAL LUMBER hauling Southe rn California roller bed truck and trailcrs and bobtails radio dispatched. Rail car unloading at our spur in Long beach. l('Trucking (213) 422-M26.

SELLING HARDWOOD?

Get your sales message to a handpicked audience of more than 5,000 lumber and building supply retailers and wholesalers in the l3 Western states. Advertise in the Special October Hardwood Issue of The Merchant Magazine. Reasonable rates. Call David Cutler collect at (714) 549-8393 today to reserve space.

post & beams, plank, and paper wrapped.

Some of our Specialties: o Mixed specified loadings o Long dimension #1 & better cuttings cross & transmission arms

OPPORTUNITY FOR INVESTORS.

Established Northern Nevada lumber yard is seeking investors for joint venture in buildings, machinery and property in prime industrial location. Allied firm to share space would be welcome. Will consider 10090 sale to qualified buyer. Write box 452 c/o The Merchant Magazine.

BUILDING SUPPLIES-HOME CENTER

$2MM yearly sales in No. Ca. mountain growth and recreation area. 9200,000 cash will handle. Please reply to Box 446 c/o The Merchant Magazine.

INDUSTRIAL PLANT FOR SALE

HEART OF NO. CA. $1,000.000 90,000 sq. ft. shop & storage. Building size: 600 to 14,000 sq. ft. RR siding. Near Hwy. l0l. Rural setting & labor market. Includes 2.15 unused acres for expan. or sale. Owner will finance. 120 mi. from San Francisco. Contact Selzer R.ealty, 350 E. Gobbi, Ukiah, Ca. 95482. Phone (707) 462-6514.

HARDWOOD INFORMATION

REPRINTS of hardwood arricles from The Merchant Magazine. Excellent for reference or training. Domestic Hardwoods, S l0: Southeast Asian Hardwoods. $5: Sourh American Hardwoods, $41 all rhree, $ 16. Send your check today including name and address to Hardwood Reprints c/o The Merchant Magazine.

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