One tree equals two woods

TWO TREES growing side by I side in many of the swampy, low lands of the southern and eastern United States are unusual in that they each produce two woods with different characteristics known by different names.

American red gum (Liquidambar styraciflua) is found throughout the eastern and southern parts of the United States with commercial production taking place largely in the lower Mississippi Valley. It also is grown in Mexico and Central America.

The heartwood usually is marketed as red gum although it is known in various areas as hazelwood, southern gum and sweet gum. The sapwood is marketed as sap gum. Before World War II the wood had a popular overseas market in Britain where the heartwood was known as satin walnut and the sapwood as hazel pine.

The tree grows from medium size to large, 80 to 100 feet tall, with a long smooth bole of two to five feet in diameter. It grows best in lowlying land that is liable to flood. The tree produces a vanilla-scented gum or resin, which was once used in medicine and perfume.

The heartwood is reddish-brown with dark streaks, and a satin luster. Moderately heavy, about the same as soft maple, it often has an irregular and interlocked grain which gives a striped figure to a quartered surface. Although not exceedingly strong, the heartwood is often selected for its attractive figure. The average density is about 35 pounds per foot in the seasoned condition.

The red gum or heartwood is used both inside and outside of houses. According to one hardwood man, the beautiful prime wood was often used in moulding and panels in fine homes in the San Francisco, Ca., Bay Area early in this century. Cabinetmaking, wooden dishes and fruit boxes are other uses. Supplies of veneer (sliced, rotary) are plentiful with lumber available.

Story at a Glance

Trees from same species or name produce wood with different characteristics ... opposites in color, figuration ... variations in softness

Sap BUf,, as the sapwood is known, is pinkish white in color often blued by sap stains. The pattern is weak, usually watery. Although similar to the heartwood in characteristics, it is not as durable. It is used for interior plywood, furniture including tv cabinets, and architectural woodwork. The most widely used species for veneer in the United States, it is available in abundant quantities for both rotary veneer and lumber.

Red gum is difficult to dry. Because of the irregular grain, it is liable to distort. It is moderately hard and has good strength properties, especially shock-resistance and stiffness. It works fairly easily, finishing smoothly although it requires care because of the interlocked grain, and glues well. The resistance to fungi is low.

In the forms of lumber, veneer and plywood this species is useful for a wide range of purposes, notably for furniture and interior woodwork, boxes, crates, and pallets and dry cooperage. It is also used for pulp.

With another southern and eastern swamp tree, the tupelo, the -A/yssa aquatica is known as tupelo gum and N. sylvatica as black gum.

Both are tall, growing up to about 100 feet, with a straight bole, a little larger than 2 feet in diameter, but buttressed at the base.

Yellow to pale-brown in color, the wood frequently has darker patches but is generally somewhat featureless. With a fine, even texture, it has an irregular and often interlocked grain. It is moderately light in weight, especially the tupelo gum, which tends to be softer and more open in texture than black gum. Wood from the base of this tree when swollen can be exceptionally light.

Tupelo dries readily with a marked tendency to distort. It is not a strong wood, but black gum is noted for its resistance to splitting. Although soft and light, it is difficult to work and because of the irregular grain it takes care to produce a good finish. Durability is low in conditions favoring decay.

A general-purpose wood used in the solid, it is often rotary-peeled for veneer and plywood. Used in furniture and for interior joinery, moulding and packaging, it also makes a hard-wearing floor. After preservative treating, it is used in the U.S. for railway sleepers. It also is used as a plywood core veneer.

LAVISH CELEBRATI0I{ marked 20th anniversary of Royal Plywood and the opening of new facilities located on 5 acres in La Mirada, Ca.

(1) Jerry Huisken, founder and pres. , with his wife, Mary Ann, who decorated the new 0Jfices, welcomed more than 700 guests for tours of (2) warehouse and office. (3) Molly and Ross Scarberrv. Todd Huiskenarechauffeured in the waiehouse touring car. (4) Display ol Huisken's car collection. (5) Friendly competitor Don Weber, Weber Plywood, arrived aboard Jennie who then gave rides t0 the guests. (6) Guests enjoyed sealood bullet in garden setting. The 1 00,000 sq. ft. complex includesan eightcar spurwith dock under canopy and a maintenance garage for trucks and equipment.