The Rural Voice, 2005-06, Page 49Woodlot Management
Black walnut still has a mgstique
Steve Bowers
is a forester
and forest
owner, a
member of
the Huron -
Perth
Chapter of
the Ontario
Woodlot
Association
and
Stewardship
Co-ordinator with the Huron
Stewardship Council.
Recently, while driving through
the northern Huron countryside in the
St. Augustine area, I passed two
properties where landowners were
proudly displaying signs indicating
they were Walnut Council members.
The Walnut Council is an
organization based in Indiana and
primarily focused on the culture of
black walnut trees. Their web site
(www.walnutcouncil.org) boasts
1.000 members from 45 U.S. states
and seven other countries, including
Canada. It includes a variety of
information and links relating to
black walnut.
The fact this organization even
exists is a testament to the interest the
black walnut tree species has
generated among forest owners and
professionals over the years. For
some, the black walnut has had an
almost mythical status; likely due to
the historical market value of walnut
lumber and veneer, which for many
years (particularly in the 1970s) was
significantly higher than that from
most other domestic hardwoods.
Many people have heard stories of
individual black walnut trees that
have been sold for several thousand
dollars.
Market prices for walnut and
other fine hardwood species are
dependent on supply and demand.
Also, quality and size of the trees
influences value as large trees of a
quality suitable for use as veneer
obviously contain more volume and
will command a higher price per unit
of volume.
Markets in recent years have
trended towards a greater demand for
lighter coloured species such as black
cherry and sugar maple and reduced
demand for darker woods such as
walnut. While good quality black
walnut trees are still valuable, the
difference in value on North
American markets between walnut
and some other species is not as great
as it was historically. In fact, some,
like black cherry, have surpassed the
price of walnut at times.
Traditional uses for walnut wood
products have also changed over time
and may have affected markets as
well. For example, one book I
looked at in preparing this column
(Canadian Woods published in 1981)
listed a number of uses for walnut
lumber and veneer including cabinets
for televisions, phonographs and '
radios. as well as gunstocks. Of
course few electronic appliances now
have wooden cabinets of any kind.
(Do they even make phonographs
anymore?) While walnut is still
preferred for gunstocks due to its
appearance and resistance to shock.
many are now made from synthetic
materials.
Walnut lumber is easy to work,
stable, resistant to rot, and finishes
well. These characteristics, along
with the rich, dark colour, have made
it a favourite for woodworking.
whether by hobbyists or industry and
contributed to historical demand and
value.
Black walnut trees are also used
for other products. In parts of the
United States they are grown in
orchards for production of walnuts
for human consumption. The nut
meat is extracted from the extremely
hard shell with specialized equipment
and utilized for a variety of uses
including baking and ice cream. The
shells are ground up and used as an
industrial abrasive. The husks have
been used to produce a dye. a fact
that anyone who has handled walnut
husks would find easy to believe.
While lumber and veneer prices
are established by North American
markets, local prices (particularly for
sawlogs) may vary. depending on the
�‘N L.
SPP
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0LAN0 5
Marvin L. Smith
B.Sc.F. (Forestry), R.P.F.
Farm Woodland Specialist
570 Riverview Dr.
Listowel, Ontario N4W 3T7
Telephone: (519) 291-2236
Providing advice and assistance with:
• impartial advice/assistance in selling timber.
including selection of trees and marking
• reforestation of erodible or idle land
• follow-up tending of young plantations
• windbreak planning and establishment
• woodlot management planning
• diagnosis of insect and disease problems
• conducting educational programs in woodlot
management
• any other woodland or tree concerns
Tree Marking,
Advertising,
Woodlot
Assessments
corDatt
To
$VLTInG Foresters & Certified Tree Markers
1-888-923-9995
Dave Taylor &
Jim Eccles
Owen Sound, ON
John Todd Harold Frost
Paris, ON Clinton, ON
Eleanor Reed
Orillia, ON
519-794-9992 519-442-3102 519-482-7176 705-328-4584
JUNE 200`