Talking About Trees and Their Wood
The tallest trees in the world are the Coast Douglas Fir, Australian Mountain Ash, Sitka Spruce, Giant Sequoia and the Coast Redwood all measuring over 300 feet tall. I have cut down trees that were some 80 foot high but I would not relish the task (nor would I dream of doing so) of felling these giants of nature.
I have selected 6 tree types that are my favorites and although some of them are not fast growing I would plant them in this order of preference.
1 Ash: Long, straight and clean grained timber lengths are ideal for the uprights of a ladder. Ladder makers from times past insisted that the two uprights be from the same tree or log split down the center. Ash is a springy timber ideally suited for a ladder. The rungs are not ash but are made from oak or sometimes hickory.
2 Larch: It is a tough wood, durable and waterproof. It is the waterproof qualities that make larch a good material for building small boats. In some countries the young leaves of the larch are eaten in salads.
3 Spruce: Like the ash this wood too is good for the uprights of a ladder. The long fibers of spruces make it ideal for papermaking. Another useful feature of this timber is in making musical instruments such as violins, mandolins and guitars.
4 Elm: Good grain which resists splitting and damp conditions, and is used in furniture making, including coffin making.
5 Walnut: A dense hardwood which polishes up really well and is a excellent wood for furniture makers. The grain of the walnut is tight making it a perfect wood for carving and veneering.
6 Oak: Great tree for making oak barrels but coopers are few and far between nowadays and making your own wooden barrel is not for the faint hearted. Oak is also used for the rungs of the ash ladder.