Notes on Forestry and Wood-Use
Cooperative Extension Service PURDUE UNIVERSITY Lafayette, Indiana
Mimeo F-27
SOME IMPORTANT INDIANA WOODS, THEIR PROPERTIES AND USES
E. J. LOTT, Extension Forester
The broad-leaved deciduous trees of Indiana, collectively referred to as the hardwoods, are known the world over because of their excellent quality. They are famous for many special products such as furniture, baskets, handles, boxes, ball bats, barells, and an infinite variety of other every-day items.
High quality logs of white oak and black walnut are widely and vigorously sought after, both in this country and for export abroad, to be sliced or sawed into veneer for use in furniture making. Tuliptree, red oak, sweet gum, sycamore, hard maple and black cherry are also commonly used in the veneer industry. Another form of veneer is that used in the manufacture of market baskets, egg crates, strawberry baskets and apple boxes. Cottonwood, elm, tuliptree, sweet gum and beech are the species most commonly used for this purpose.
The following tabulation will provide further information concerning the properties and uses of the many hardwood species in Indiana of commercial importance. It is not intended to be exhaustive, but will illustrate the properties and most common uses .
SPECIES	PROPERTIES	USES AND PRODUCTS
Ash, White	Hard, heavy, strong; high shock resistance, good bending qualities, holds nails well, works well, wears smooth in use, free of taste and odor.	Ball bats, handles, oars, hockey sticks, boxes, crates, furniture, kitchen cabinets, farm lumber, face veneer, sucker rods.
Aspen, Largetooth	Soft, light, light color; free of staining materials, fine uniform texture, straight grain, free of taste and odor.	Pulpwood, excelsior, boxes and crates, logs for cabin construction, matches.
Basswood	Soft, light and weak; fine uniform texture, easy to work, has no odor or taste, holds paint and glue well, low shock resistance.	Boxes, baskets, bee supplies, Venetian blinds, cheese boxes, kitchen cabinets, drawing boards, veneer for plywood, core stock for furniture veneer, artificial limbs.
Beech	Hard, heavy, strong; high shock resistance, holds nails well, wears well and stays smooth, high fuel value, good bending qualities.	Furniture, wooden ware (toys, clothespins, salad forks, spoons, bobbins, spools), flooring, baskets, fuel-wood, boxes and crates, handles, farm lumber.
Birch, River	Hard, heavy, strong; attractive appearance, finishes smoothly, high shock resistance, holds nails well.	Pulpwood, cabinet work, farm lumber.
Catalpa	Moderately light, soft; moderately high shock resistance, durable.	Fence posts, cabinet work, interior finish, general construction work.