Re: Black ash, sassafras, and beyond    Fores-@aol.com
   Sep 13, 2003 04:28 PDT 
Bob:

In many areas of WV, especially areas where there was past farming activity,
sassafras can be a very common pioneer species. It really isn't favored for
timber...although its lumber has a grain that makes it an excellent replacement
for American chestnut in old furniture or antique restoration projects.

Although I never encountered sassafras in MA larger than small crooked poles,
I have encountered it in the woods of WV up to 30" DBH and 100+ feet
tall....28" DBH is the biggest one at Crummies Creek.

Anyway, it seems like roads and skid trails are always being built through
patches of sassafras and the smell that exudes from the ground when a bulldozer
passes through a patch of sassafras is one of the few truly delicious smells
you are ever likely to encounter on a logging job....I would rate it along with
the farming equivalent of fresh mowed hay...the only difference is that the
sassafras smell dissipates in a few minutes while the fresh hay smell can
linger for a couple hours.

Russ