e of these
trees from a steep, dry south slope in West Virginia had an
average strength fully equal to that of the pignut from the
better situation, and were superior in toughness, the work to
maximum load being 36.8 as against 31.2 for pignut. The trees
had about twice as many rings per inch as others from better
situations.

"This, however, is not very significant, as trees of the same
species, age, and size, growing side by side under the same
conditions of soil and situation, show great variation in their
technical value. It is hard to account for this difference, but
it seems that trees growing in wet or moist situations are
rather inferior to those growing on fresher soil; also, it is
claimed by many hickory users that the wood from limestone soils
is superior to that from sandy soils.

"One of the moot questions among hickory men is the relative
value of northern and southern hickory. The impression prevails
that southern hickory is more porous and brash than hickory from
the north. The tests ... indicate that southern hickory is as
tough and strong as northern hickory of the same age. But the
southern hickories have a greater tendency to be shaky, and this
results in much waste. In trees from southern river bottoms the
loss through shakes and grub-holes in many cases amounts to as
much as 50 per cent.

"It is clear, therefore, that the difference in northern and
southern hickory is not due to geographic location, but rather
to the character of timber that is being cut. Nearly all of that
from southern river bottoms and from the Cumberland Mountains is
from large, old-growth trees; that from the north is from
younger trees which are grown under more favorable conditions,
and it is due simply to the greater age of the southern trees
that hickory from that region is lighter and more brash than
that from the north." Bul. 80, pp. 52-55.

SEASON OF CUTTING

It is generally believed that winter-felled timber has decided
advantages over that cut at other seasons of the year, and to
that cause alone are frequently ascribed much greater
durability, less liability to check and split, better color, and
even increased strength and toughness. The conclusion from the
various experiments made on the subject is that while the time
of felling may, and often does, affect the properties of wood,
such result is due to the weather conditions rather than to the
condition of the wood.

There are two phases of this que