Fruit wood is a valuable material that can be used for construction, but is more often used for finishing, making decorative items and tools, as it has a beautiful texture.

To make the finished thing not only beautiful, but also durable, special attention is paid to the processing of the material. Exist features of drying fruit wood, which must be taken into account so that the treated surface subsequently does not have defects.

When the wood of fruit trees is properly dried, it is very strong, does not crack, and can be easily worked, cut, sawn, polished, and sanded.

How to dry apple wood

Apple wood is the most common material among all types of fruit tree wood. This is due to the wide distribution of the plant itself.

Before how to dry apple wood, you need to create the right conditions and choose the temperature regime that will ensure the safety of the structure. After processing, the core should acquire a red-brown hue and a yellow-pink sapwood, the rays of the core should be hardly noticeable.

Apple wood is highly drying, heavy, hard, has an average resistance to biological damage, as well as an average density. The shrinkage factor is even higher than that of hardwood.

All this suggests that drying apple wood need in a special mode to avoid warping and cracking.

1. lumber is stacked in a place protected from atmospheric influences;
2. atmospheric drying is carried out until a certain level of humidity is reached (20-25%);
3. moisture heat treatment and soft drying are carried out;
4. final drying is carried out at a temperature of up to 60 degrees to a humidity of 12%.

When the process is carried out correctly, it takes 25-30 days, which takes a lot of time. But forcing drying apple wood leads to a decrease in quality.

The apple tree, with its beautiful texture and wonderful properties, is used primarily to create:

• decorative products;
• designer furniture;
• musical instruments;
• expensive dishes.

Even wood chips and twigs have been used, they are used when smoking products to give them a special golden crust.

How to dry pear wood

The pear is the third most common fruit tree after the apple tree. Pear wood, when properly dried, has a soft texture; vessels, rays and annual rings are hardly distinguishable at the saw cut site. The shade is very pleasant, it can vary from pink to brown, from yellow to red, depending on the age of the sawn tree and how the thing was used, whether it was in direct sunlight.

If a dry pear wood correctly, it has a high density, but at the same time retains flexibility, it is easy to paint, grind, polish. The pear dries out a lot, easily gives off moisture, despite the fact that in a freshly cut state it has a moisture content of 90-100%.

Process drying pear wood should be done in the following way:

1. steaming at 110 degrees until bright (optimum color is a uniform pinkish brown) and reaching 130% humidity;
2. drying at a temperature of 70 degrees to a humidity of 30-35%;
3. drying at a temperature of 50 degrees to a humidity of 22%;
4. moisture heat treatment and drying at a temperature of 30 degrees until a humidity of 9% is reached.

Drying pear wood ideally takes 20-25 days, after which processing can begin. This material is most in demand for the manufacture of:

• living room furniture;
• bedroom furniture;
• caskets and decorative items;
• imitation ebony.

How to dry cherries and cherries

For a special pink shade, cherry and cherry wood is popular. In some countries, in Germany in particular, these trees are specially bred for timber. In Russia, industrial breeding is carried out in the Krasnodar Territory.

A special difference between cherries and sweet cherries is a pinkish-brown hue, which becomes deeper and more saturated the older the tree, the red color shows through well. The structure of the wood is homogeneous, the fibers are straight, annual rings are clearly visible. Masters especially appreciate cherry for the fact that when polished, even without the use of special compounds, it acquires a characteristic glossy sheen.

Correct drying fruit wood cherries and sweet cherries allows you to get a material that is easy to process, cut, acquires resistance to decay.

Since cherry and cherry wood is low drying and practically does not warp, the drying process is quite simple:

1. stacking;
2. drying under the scattered rays of the sun up to 12 days;
3. steaming;
4. soft drying at a temperature of 40 degrees;
5. the second phase of drying at a temperature of 70 degrees for up to 15 days;
6. moisture heat treatment and drying to a moisture content of 8-10%.

Drying cherries or sweet cherries usually takes about 30 days. That's how much you need to get really high-quality wood from which you can make:

• parquet;
• souvenirs;
• sliced ​​veneer;
• exclusive furniture;
• musical instruments (pianos, grand pianos);
• smoking pipes;
• small utensils.

Drying other fruit species

In addition to apple, pear and cherry, wood is widely used:

• plums;
• apricot
• quince;
• peach
• mulberries;
• bird cherry;
• mountain ash;
• persimmons;
• walnut.

Features of drying fruit wood associated with structural features, density, moisture, resistance to biological agents. In any case, conditions are individual for each breed, and a competent drying process takes from 20 to 40 days.

Although industrial drying is optimal for obtaining the ideal result, it is also possible at home if the features of the process are studied, a professional moisture meter is available and good dryers are selected.

Rowan. Rowan. GenusSorbus

Mountain ash is widely distributed throughout almost the entire territory of the forest zone of Russia, however, it is considered a species of limited use due to the small reserves of its wood, which are not of significant commercial interest. Nevertheless, this breed should not be neglected.

Rowan - a Eurasian tree or large shrub - is known in Europe under the names Ebcresche, Vogelbeere, Quitschc, Drosselbeere (German), Whitebeam, Rowan, Service Tree and Mountain Ash (English), Sorbier (French), sorbo selatico ( it.), serbnal (Spanish). It is believed that the Latin name of the genus comes from the Celtic word sorb, meaning "tart, bitter", indicating the taste of the fruit. Most of its folk names in Europe are due to the fact that the fruits of mountain ash are a favorite food of a number of birds (Vogelbeere - "bird berry" or Drosselbeere - "thrush berry"). Latin name mountain ashordinary— Sorbus aucuparia - also associated with birds (avis (au) is translated from Latin as “bird”, and sarege means “to catch”), since the berries were widely used as bait for catching thrushes. The similarity of rowan foliage with ash foliage led to the emergence of its other names: Eberesche ("false" ash), or Mountain ash (mountain ash). Mountain ash belongs to one of the most common (almost all over the world) and numerous (100 genera and over 3000 species) families - Rosaceae.

Range and main species

Most of us know only one mountain ash - ordinary. Meanwhile, all over the world there are more than 80 of its species and a significant number of hybrids distributed in the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere, including 28 species on the territory of Russia. They differ significantly from each other in the color of the fruit, bark, leaf shape and other features. In Russia, mountain ash is found in the forests of the European part, in the mountains and foothills of the North Caucasus, in the Urals, in Siberia and in the Far East. Most species grow in light forests of mountain slopes or along gorges, single trees or groves. They are found in the under-growth and in the lower tier of mountain forests, where they rise to the upper border of the forest belt, and sometimes even enter the subalpine belt.

We list the general morphological features of the genus. The bark is smooth, sometimes cracking (in old trees), gray or reddish. The leaves are alternate, simple, entire, pinnately dissected, lobed, sometimes compound, pinnate, serrated or serrated along the edges. The flowers are bisexual, white, in thyroid inflorescences, with a strong smell, somewhat reminiscent of the smell of bitter almonds, pollinated by insects. Fruits are apple-shaped, spherical or pear-shaped.

Rowan ordinary - a tree 4-15 m high. Under favorable conditions (for example, in the forests of Thuringia) it reaches a height of 24-27 m, and the diameter of the trunk at chest level is up to 50 cm. The crown is ovoid, the flowers are white, blooming in May-June. The fruits are orange-red, ripen in September-October. It grows in the European part of Russia (mainly in forests, but along the banks of rivers it penetrates into the forest-tundra and steppe zone), in the Caucasus, and also almost throughout Europe. It is found in North Africa, Turkey and Northwestern Iran. Participates in the structure of the second tier of various types of forests, more often oxalis and nemoral groups, absent in long-moss and sphagnum forest types. In the Caucasus, it can be found in subalpine woodlands, high-mountain pine forests, fir forests, and green moss spruce forests. It is widely distributed in culture throughout almost the entire territory of Russia.

Siberian rowan(Sorbus sibirica)— tree up to 15-17 m high, grows in the north-east of the European part of Russia, throughout Siberia and in the south-west of the Far East, is found on mountain slopes in Mongolia. In coniferous and deciduous forests, it can be found quite rarely, mainly in the form of second-tier trees or large shrubs. More often and plentifully, it is represented in floodplain forests.

It rises high into the mountains, but rarely reaches the borders of the forest belt.

In rowan home (large-fruited, or Crimean)— Sorbus domestica - compound leaves, with a large number of leaflets (7-10 pairs) and large yellowish-red or greenish-yellow, spherical or pear-shaped fruits about 3 cm in diameter. It occurs in the Crimea, in the undergrowth of broad-leaved forests in the Gelendzhik region and on Western Caucasus. In small volumes, it is bred as a fruit tree. It is one of the dominants of the undergrowth of the stone-birch forests of Kamchatka.

Rowan medium (intermediate, Swedish)— Sorbus intermedia - a tree of medium size, 10-15 (sometimes up to 18) m tall, usually with a short trunk, the crown is ovoid or round, the main branches are directed vertically, the shoots are horizontal or curved, do not hang; annual growth is 10-20 cm. Modest white social branches resemble shields in their shape. It blooms in late May early June, the flowers have an unpleasant odor. The fruits are round, orange or scarlet, ripen from early September. The leaves are ovate, slightly split-leaved, rough, pale green, gray pubescence below, in autumn they acquire a pale yellow tint.

It grows in Scandinavia, the Baltic States and Central Europe (for example, on the plains of Germany). In culture, it is found in Ukraine and in central Russia. This species is often confused with rowan hybrid, but it does not have a complex sheet. The fruits are orange-red, up to 1 cm in diameter.

View with whole, almost rounded leathery, bright green leaves from above, covered with white-tomentose pubescence from below, - rowan aria(Sorbus aria). Grows in deciduous forests of Western Europe. Leaves turn bronze in autumn. It begins to bloom and bear fruit at the age of 10. White flowers are collected in a corymb up to 8 cm in diameter. The fruits are spherical, orange-red or orange-pink with mealy pulp. They find application in the food industry.

Area of ​​natural distribution rowan glogovina, or medical birches(Sorbus torminalis), is the southwestern part of Ukraine, Crimea, the Caucasus, Western Europe, Asia Minor. This is a slender tree with a rounded crown up to 25 m tall. The bark on the trunks and old branches is dark gray, with longitudinal cracks, olive on young shoots. The leaves are simple, broadly ovate, up to 18 cm long, rounded at the base, heart-shaped, pointed at the apex, with 3-5 sharp lobes, finely serrated along the edge. The upper surface of the leaf is dark green, shiny, the lower surface is hairy-pubescent. Leaves turn yellow or orange in autumn. Flowers up to 1 cm, white, in loose, corymbose inflorescences, up to 8 cm in diameter. Blooms within 10-12 days. Fruits are round, up to 1.8 cm in diameter, orange or reddish, later brown; pulp with stony cells, mealy, sweet and sour.

A wide variety of mountain ash is observed in the Far East. Most interesting: row-mixed bean(Sorbus commixta) with about. Sakhalin, from China, Korea and Japan and Rowanelderberry(Sorbus sambucifolia) with a wide range - from Anadyr, Kamchatka, through the Okhotsk coast to Sakhalin and the Kuriles. Rowan mixed, growing in mountain forests, is a shrub or tree up to 4-8 m in height with dark gray smooth bark, bare sticky buds and leaves, by which it can be immediately distinguished from other species. The leaves are also not pubescent. It begins to bloom and bear fruit at the age of eight. The flowers are collected in dense inflorescences up to 8-12 cm wide, open in June. Fruits no more than 7 mm in diameter, ripen in August. It can be successfully cultivated south of St. Petersburg.

Elderberry mountain ash is a low-growing (height 1-2 m) shrub with a rounded crown, growing in birch forests, more often on dry stony and sandy soil. The leaves reach 18 cm in length and 12 cm in width, consist of only 5-7 leaflets, serrated along the edge, dark green and glossy on the upper side, resembling the leaves of evergreens with their brilliance and leathery structure. Corymbose inflorescences, reaching a diameter of 10 cm, consist of white or pinkish flowers up to 1.5 cm in diameter each. Flowering occurs in June from the age of seven. In September, spherical bright red, sour, but pleasant-tasting fruits ripen. In landscaping, it is used singly, in groups, and also for low hedges.

Rowan Schneider(Sorbus schneide- riana) - low, up to 2.5 m in height, shrub with somewhat smaller and also shiny leaves. Corymbose sots-vetii of white flowers only 8 cm in diameter bloom in June. In September, bright red, sometimes orange fruits ripen. It grows on Sakhalin, the Kuril Islands, in mountain forests, on slopes, along the banks of forest streams, on the edges.

Of the mountain ash of Central Asia, the most famous mountain ash Tien Shan(Sorbus tianschanica) — shrub or small, up to 5 m tall, tree with dark green, shiny, metallic-shimmering foliage, olive or red-brown young branches. Blooms from 6 years. Inflorescences up to 15 cm in diameter. The fruits, ripening in August-September, are spherical, up to 12 mm in diameter, dark red, when fully ripe they acquire a bluish bloom. It grows in the Tien Shan and Pamir-Alai mountains, near the upper limit of forest vegetation.

Rowan cashmere(Sorbuscashmiriana) widespread in the pine forests of the Western Himalayas at an altitude of 2300-4000 m and reaches almost the upper limit of forest vegetation. It is interesting with pinkish-white or slightly bluish fruits up to 1.5-1.8 mm in diameter and whitish-pinkish, sometimes pink flowers. The plant has taken root in central Russia.

Among the rare species in need of protection, we should mention mountain ash hayastanRussian(Sorbus hajastanica) — endemic of Transcaucasia, and rowan Turkestan(Sorbus tukestanica), extremely rare in the mountains of Central Asia.

Approximately six species of mountain ash grow in North America. And in its eastern part grows very winter-hardy mountain ash(Sorbus americana) — a small tree (up to 9 m tall), which differs from ordinary mountain ash in larger inflorescences and leaves. It begins to bloom and bear fruit at the age of 10. Inflorescences reach 14 cm in diameter, the fruits are round, bright red, ripen in October. Decorative orange-brown autumn foliage.

Rowan Sitka (Sorbus sitchensis) — shrub up to 4-6 m high. Distributed in the north-west of the continent.

So-called chokeberry- a species of chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) close to true mountain ash from North America, widely cultivated for edible fruits.

Conditions for growth and reproduction

Rowan is a pioneer tree: one of the first, it inhabits wastelands, clearings, abandoned arable lands. Propagated mainly by seeds, less often by layering, and in cultivation by cuttings and grafting. In the wild, seeds are spread by birds and some animals (for example, fox and badger) that feed on its fruits. Prefers moist fertile soils, lives up to 200-300 years. Does not like wet peaty-marsh, as well as saline soils. It grows better on loamy soils than on sandy ones. In some places, usually near the nesting of fieldfare thrushes, it forms numerous populations that stably exist due to the regular supply of seeds. Under shading conditions, mountain ash is also capable of vegetative propagation by stump growth, root offspring and rooting of creeping shoots. On forest clearings, clearings and edges, it also renews well, begins to bear fruit earlier (already at the age of 5 years), has a longer life expectancy (by 50-80 years) and larger fruits. Of all the flowers on the tree, about one third forms fruits. In addition, in the process of fruit development, a significant part of them falls off before the final ripening period. It is characterized by cross-pollination with the help of insects, in some cases self-pollination occurs. Cases of the formation of seedless fruits are known.

The decorativeness of mountain ash and the use of its fruits for various purposes has led to the widespread cultivation of various species, and more often natural or artificial hybrids.

In culture, species mountain ash is propagated by seeds, and decorative forms and varieties are grafted onto common or Finnish mountain ash, since the latter has a more powerful and deep root system, and the plants grafted on it suffer less from dry soil. Good results can be obtained using common hawthorn as a rootstock. Budding is usually carried out in July-early August with a dormant eye. Rowan homemade on ordinary rootstocks fails, it has good growth only due to grafting on pear wilds. When propagating mountain ash with seeds, sowing is carried out in autumn or spring, seeds stratified from autumn. About 150 seeds are sown per 1 linear meter. Dried or last year's seeds are pre-soaked for 3-4 hours before stratification. Crops carried out before winter must be insulated with leaf litter. Seedlings of most rowan species grow quickly and by autumn are suitable for planting in school for growing and shaping.

The technology of growing planting material from seeds is much simpler, and in some cases more convenient, than propagation by grafting - a dormant bud or cuttings. However, in seed propagation, one should take into account not only the degree of variability of species, but also the later entry into the flowering and fruiting season of young plants. A number of mountain ash, for example, Finnish, elderberry, large-fruited, Moravian, sweet-fruited, Nevezhinskaya, Burka and some others, when propagated by seed, produce offspring that practically do not differ from maternal forms and are not inferior to plants obtained by grafting. Shoots of mountain ash grow quite quickly and, as a rule, ripen. It is best to plant young plants in a permanent place in the fall, leaving 3-4 m between vigorous species, and 1.5-2 m between undersized ones.

Planting care is reduced to the timely removal of shoots, which often form at the root collar, and shoots growing below the grafting site, as well as to watering, fertilizing and loosening the soil, crown shaping and pest and disease control. Since mountain ash in the spring begins to grow quite early and quickly, pruning and top dressing of plantings should be carried out as soon as possible and as soon as possible. At the same time, weak and broken shoots are cut out from young trees, the longest ones are somewhat shortened by an external bud. When pruning fruit-bearing plants, the nature of fruiting should be taken into account. In species and varieties that bear fruit on last year's growths, the shoots are only slightly shortened, and the thickened crown is thinned out. Plants with weak growth are given a rejuvenating pruning on a two- or three-year-old tree to encourage the growth of new shoots. In mountain ash, fruiting on various types of fruit formations, semi-skeletal branches are shortened, systematically thinning and rejuvenating the rings.

Starting from the third year of life, young plants must be fed with mineral fertilizers. The most effective is triple top dressing: in spring, before flowering, when 20 g of nitrogen, 25 g of phosphorus and 15 g of potassium fertilizers are applied per square meter of plantings; in summer - 10-15 g of nitrogen and phosphorus and 10 g of potassium; in the fall, after harvesting, - 10 g of phosphorus and potassium. Fertilizers close up shallowly, slightly digging up the soil, after which the plantings are watered abundantly.

American mountain ash is frost and drought tolerant. It propagates by seeds and cuttings, the rooting rate of which is up to 30%. Mixed mountain ash is propagated by seeds and cuttings, which give rooting about 80%. Its first introduction into culture dates back to 1880.

Rowan elderberry is also propagated by seeds and cuttings.

Rowan Schneider is resistant to frost, unpretentious to soil fertility, can be grown in the forest-tundra zone. Both species have been cultivated since 1905.

In Scandinavia and the Baltic countries, mountain ash has been widespread in culture since ancient times, which is propagated by seeds and cuttings. It is very winter-hardy and drought-resistant, and also tolerates gas pollution and smoke (unlike ordinary mountain ash), unpretentious to the soil, puts up with its compaction. It is most decorative in autumn when the fruits ripen and the foliage changes color to yellow and orange.

Rowan aria, the fruits of which are widely used in the food industry, is drought-resistant, but prefers bright sunny places and soils rich in lime. In culture, it can be grown south of St. Petersburg. Propagated mainly by seeds.

Diseases and pests

One of the main reasons for the death of rowan trees and the loss of business wood is tinder fungi (false, alder and maple), which most often affect mature stands and cause the development of sound or sound-sapwood white or yellow-brown rot in the trunks and large branches. Infection occurs through frost cracks and mechanical damage mainly in the butt. Infestation with tinder fungus often leads to the appearance of a hollow, a decrease in the yield of commercial wood (up to 100%) and the death of trees. At the same time, I resort to control measures that are characteristic of all rotten tree diseases: sanitary felling, timely removal or chemical protection of harvested wood, removal or destruction of deadwood, windbreak, logging and other wood residues. In parks and gardens, individual protection of trees is recommended: pruning of affected and withered branches, treatment of wounds, filling hollows, destruction of fruiting bodies of rot pathogens.

Of the diseases caused by fungi, anthracnose should be noted, damaging leaves, shoots, fruits and seeds. Rowan (as well as for other breeds) is characterized by damage by specialized parasites - Gloeosporium aucuparia. Measures to prevent this disease cover the early stages of plant development: from dressing seeds to fungicide treatment of crops, mother plantations and schools in late autumn or early spring, as well as treatment of trees during the growing season.

Another disease worth mentioning is the mummification of fruits and seeds, also known as fruit rot (moniliosis). Affected seeds and fruits of stone fruits (including mountain ash) become unsuitable for further use. Control measures: destruction of last year's diseased fruits in forest seed plots, their timely collection, sorting and chemical treatment before storage, chemical treatment of seeds.

Rowan in the cut

Mountain ash is a sound rock with a wide reddish-white sapwood and a red-brown heartwood. Annual layers are well visible on all sections. Vessels are small. The core rays are faintly visible on the radial section. The texture is smooth, soft, thin. Wood has a characteristic luster and high uniform density (uniform distribution of mechanical tissues across the width of the annual layer). The number of annual layers per 1 cm of the cross section for mountain ash (distribution area - the Central regions of the European part of Russia), as a rule, is on average 6,6.

Physical and mechanicaland technological properties

Most of the mountain ash species belong to medium-density species along with oak, beech and a number of other hardwood species. The average density value (humidity 12%) for most types of mountain ash is in the range of 570-600 kg / m 3. Rowan ordinary from the central regions of the European part of Russia has an average density of 594 kg / m 3. The mountain ash glogovina has the highest density - 802 kg / m 3 (Abkhazia). In Central and Northern Europe, its density ranges from 670 to 900 kg / m 3, i.e. this species can be attributed to rocks with high density.

• when stretched along the fibers - 131 MPa;
• when chipping along the fibers in the radial direction - 11-12 MPa;
• in the tangential direction - 10-11 MPa.
• Impact strength - 84.6 kJ / m 2

The static hardness of ordinary mountain ash and glogovina mountain ash is significantly different:

• end hardness - 60.1 (ordinary) and 97.7 (glogovina) N / mm 2;
• radial - 40.8 and 67.5 N / mm 2;
• end - 41.5 and 74.2 N / mm 2 (respectively).
• The modulus of elasticity is 12.8 GPa.

The wood of most types of mountain ash is well processed by cutting, excellently ground and polished. Due to its pleasant color, luster and strength, it is often used to imitate precious woods, which is also facilitated by a good ability to perceive stains and stains. The stability of rowan products is rated as good. It adheres well and holds fasteners (nails and screws). The ability to bend is somewhat worse than that of beech.

Application area

The wood of this species is a valuable handicraft material. In joinery and furniture products, it can be used without restrictions and at the same time compete with oak and beech wood, since parts from it have greater dimensional stability than oak and beech. At present, craftsmen clearly underestimate this breed, whereas earlier it was highly valued for its strength, toughness, elasticity and appearance. In Europe (especially in Germany) in the 19th century, mountain ash was widely used by carriage masters, carpenters, turners and carvers to imitate expensive and scarce tropical woods. Gunsmiths and coopers did not neglect it either. They still make excellent handles for hand tools, dishes and various household utensils from it.

Currently, interest in mountain ash is reviving again. First of all, furniture manufacturers and interior designers turn to it in connection with the emergence of effective technologies for obtaining glued wood (furniture panels, etc.).

The structure of rowan wood and its properties make it possible to use thinner and other non-commercial wood of this species in the production of high-quality cellulose, excellent firewood and raw materials for charcoal are obtained from it.

Particularly popular is nevezhinsKaya (Nezhinskaya) mountain ash, bred in the vicinity of the village of Nevezhina, Vladimir Region and represented by several varieties - sugar, vat, yellow, red-fruited. Before the revolution, the fruits of Nevezhinsky mountain ash were widely used for the production of the famous tincture. One interesting legend is connected with this mountain ash. Having heard about the numerous advantages of these varieties, the rich merchant Smirnov bought all the berries from Nevezhinsky peasants. And this meant that the entire crop that the peasants would harvest from now on belonged only to him. However, the merchant had many competitors who also wanted to get the famous mountain ash at their disposal. And in order to deceive his rivals, Smirnov called the mountain ash Nezhinskaya. And since the city of Nizhyn is located in Ukraine, competitors rushed to the Chernihiv province, hoping to bring seedlings or seeds from there. But no matter how much they searched, they did not find anything like it in those parts.

For the first time, I. V. Michurin took up the breeding of new varieties of rowan with the help of hybridization. To increase the size of the berries and improve their taste, he crossed mountain ash with chokeberry, hawthorn, medlar, apple and pear. So the copra "Burka", "Pomegranate", "Dessert", "Ruby" were obtained. Their advantages include low stature, winter hardiness, early fruiting and low acid content in fruits.

In the national folklore tradition, the mountain ash often symbolized happiness and peace in the family, so they tried to plant it closer to home. She has long been mentioned in true stories, legends, poems and fairy tales in combination with such epithets as “curly”, “cheerful”, “thin”. From time immemorial, rowan has been considered a plant that protects a person from all sorts of misfortunes, and figured as a spiritualized character in many customs and rituals.

"WOOD.RU" 4/2007

Mountain ash is a sound rock with a wide reddish-white sapwood and a red-brown heartwood. Annual layers are clearly visible in all sections. Vessels are small. The core rays are poorly visible on the radial section. The texture is smooth, soft, thin. Wood has a characteristic brilliance and high uniformity (uniform distribution of mechanical tissues across the width of the annual layer). The number of annual layers per 1 cm of the cross section for mountain ash (distribution area - the Central regions of the European part of Russia), as a rule, averages 6.6.
Most of the mountain ash species belong to medium-density species (750 kg/m3), along with oak, beech and a number of other hardwoods. The average density value (moisture content 12%) behaves like most hardwoods, with the only difference being that it is less prone to cracking and warping than, for example, beech and, especially, oak.
Rowan wood is heavy, strong, very hard and dries out a lot. Therefore, it is not so easy to dry freshly cut mountain ash. Careless and too hasty drying leads to many large and small cracks. In terms of strength, mountain ash wood is not inferior to popular commercial hardwoods.
The wood of most types of mountain ash is well processed by cutting, excellently ground and polished. Due to its pleasant color, gloss and strength, it is often used to imitate precious woods, which is also facilitated by a good ability to perceive stains and stains. The stability of rowan products is rated as good. It adheres well and holds fasteners (nails and screws). The ability to bend is somewhat worse than that of beech.
Products from mountain ash wood are well painted, accept mordant. After grinding and polishing, they acquire a beautiful silky sheen. Dense and uniform, it is cleanly processed by cutting tools and is an excellent material for turning and carving. Moreover, the thread can be made very thin. Wood is very flexible. Thin branches of mountain ash have long been used for weaving, and thicker ones - for the manufacture of hoops, rods.
For artistic and decorative works, the wood of rowan roots is of great value. Durable, with an expressive wavy texture. Bowls, ladles, spoons and ladles were hollowed out and cut from it, a wonderful material for decorative chamber sculpture.
Rowan wood is a valuable ornamental material. In joinery and furniture products, it can be used without restrictions and at the same time compete with oak and beech wood, since parts from it have greater dimensional stability than oak and beech. At present, craftsmen clearly underestimate this breed, whereas earlier it was highly valued for its strength, toughness, elasticity and appearance. In Europe (especially in Germany) in the 19th century, mountain ash was widely used by coachmakers, carpenters, turners and carvers to imitate expensive and scarce tropical woods. Gunsmiths and coopers did not neglect it either. They still make excellent handles for hand tools, dishes and various household utensils from it.
Currently, interest in mountain ash is reviving again. First of all, furniture manufacturers and interior designers turn to it in connection with the emergence of effective technologies for the production of glued wood (furniture panels, etc.).
The structure of mountain ash wood and its properties make it possible to use thinner and other non-commercial wood of this species in the production of high-quality cellulose, excellent firewood and raw materials for charcoal are obtained from it.

The details of some machines - coils, blocks, spools of spinning wheels, shuttles of looms - the old masters preferred to make from durable rowan wood.
Rowan is hard and durable, and, due to its viscosity, it has one important property - the ability to hold blows well - what is needed for mallets and chisel handles.
In the old days, wagon bodies, armchairs, and baby strollers were woven from rowan shoots. In addition to the fact that rowan wood is very elastic, it is durable and has a beautiful texture, it is well polished, therefore it is used for various crafts, musical instruments, and furniture. Ax handles, handles of various tools are also made from it. There is no better material for making handles for sledgehammers and hammers. The unique quality of this wood is fire resistance - it hardly catches fire, therefore, in the old days, rubbing parts were made from it - sliders, rollers, teeth, shuttles, bushings, axles.

Many masters undeservedly do not pay their attention to this beautiful tree. So I, for the time being, passed by the mountain ash, until one day I noticed a beautiful, striped core on a broken mountain ash. Imagine my amazement when, in the very first trial product, the texture played with all its beauty. Now, on occasion, I always try to prepare this wonderful material.

Here is a rowan spoon, before coating.

And this is the same spoon soaked in linseed oil.

Mornings have become more frequent
Throwing handfuls of silver
And rowan in the dark thicket
The generosity of the summer saved.
Our cheeks from frost
They begin to bloom brighter
In man, apparently, too
There is something from the rowan.