Osage Orange - Commercial Wood

OSAGE ORANGE - COMMERCIAL WOOD Osage orange (Toxylon pomiferum) is the heaviest, hardest, and toughest American wood so far tested; but in strength and stiffness it is somewhat surpassed by black locust. It is one of the most durable woods, and fence-posts of it give very long service. Because of the poor form of the tree and its rarity in native condition, except in a rather limited region in Oklahoma and Texas, not much osage orange lumber is produced. The largest use is for wagon felloes for service in arid regions. Osage orange is especially adapted to this purpose, because of the very small amount which it shrinks and its great toughness.

Such factory ruses as are reported for osage orange are summarized in Table 95.

Table 95 Factory Uses of Osage Orange Purpose Per Cent Vehicles 84 Woodenware and Novelties. 9 Car Construction 6 Other Uses 1Total 100 Osage orange is also used to some extent for canes, clock cases, furniture parts, insulator pins, hubs, inlaid work, and mauls.