Creative Woodworks & crafts 2004-08, страница 69

There are several species of walnut found in the United States, but this profile will cover black walnut. It has a wide range that extends from the eastern U.S. to just west of the Mississippi River, as far north as southern Michigan, and south to the Florida panhandle. It grows in nearly any well-drained soil and does not tolerate extended periods of flooding; however, it thrives in soils that retain some moisture during dry periods.

Individual trees can reach heights in excess of 110 feet tall and over 6 feet in diameter, and most trees cut here in the east come from backyards more than from forested areas. That in itself causes a problem because they nearly always contain hardware that ranges from roofing nails and clothesline pulleys to large pieces of iron that once held who knows what. These items wreak havoc on saw blades and add considerable cost to milling operations.

The bark has several different appearances, dependent mostly upon the age of the tree. Younger trees (top photo, above) have a bark pattern similar to Butternut, Sassafras and American Elm. but as they age, the bark becomes less furrowed and scalier and takes on a distinctive appearance. Nonetheless, some people find winter identification of Walnut to be a bit confusing. If you study the crowns in the winter, you will soon be able to pick them out in any location because the limb and twig configuration is distinctive. The bark has been used for tanning leather due to its high tannin content.