PHYSICAL PROPERTIES AND COMMERCIAL USES OF WESTERN JUNIPER
John R. Herbst, Area Extension F o r e s t e r
Union County E x t e n s i o n S e r v i c e
La Grande, Oregon
ABSTRACT
Western j u n i p e r ( J u n i p e r u s o c c i d e n t a l i s Hook.) h a s
s e v e r a l p. r o-p e r t i e s which could b e commercially marketed.
H i s t o r i c a l l y , w e s t e r n j u n i p e r h a s b e e n used f o r f e n c e p o s t s ,
d e c o r a t i v e boughs, and firewood. V o l a t i l e and e s s e n t i a l
o i l s can b e e x t r a c t e d from f o l i a g e and t e r m i n a l b r a n c h e s
a s w e l l a s from t h e wood of w e s t e r n j u n i p e r .
These o i l s
a r e valued a s f l a v o r i n g and s c e n t i n g -agents. P r e s e n t l y
t h e wood i s b e i n g used f o r making f u r n i t u r e a s w e l l a s
paneling. The wood can b e s u c c e s s f u l l y d r i e d , cured and
made i n t o p r o d u c t s . The wood of j u n i p e r h a s a v e r y
a t t r a c t i v e smooth f i n i s h w i t h p l e a s i n g c o l o r a t i o n and
aroma. Veneer, hardboard and p a r t i c l e b o a r d have a l l been
s u c c e s s f u l l y manufactured from j u n i p e r .
Keywords:
J u n i p e r , p r o p e r t i e s , o i l s , wood, lumber,
utilization.
INTRODUCTION
The i n t e n t of t h i s paper i s t o p r e s e n t i n f o r m a t i o n on t h e p h y s i c a l
p r o p e r t i e s of w e s t e r n j u n i p e r ( J u n i p e r u s o c c i d e n t a l i s Hook.) a s w e l l
a s same o f i t s p r o p e r t i e s which l i m i t i t s commercial u s e f u l n e s s . The
paper was going t o b e fashioned around f u t u r e p o t e n t i a l commercial
However, t h e c r y s t a l b a l l i s o u t of o r d e r
u s e s of w e s t e r n j u n i p e r .
and " f u t u r e " i m p l i e s t h a t t h e r e a r e no p r e s e n t commercial u s e s of
juniper.
P r e s e n t l y , t h e r e are no l a r g e c o n c e n t r a t e d markets f o r w e s t e r n
juniper.
Like any o t h e r m a t e r i a l o r product which i s marginal, t h e s e
markets need t o b e developed. W i l l t h e r e b e markets f o r w i n d f a l l g a i n s
f o r t h o s e whose l a n d s are overtaken by w e s t e r n j u n i p e r ? Not l i k e l y !
There are many c o s t s involved w i t h h a r v e s t and manufacture of j u n i p e r
which n e g a t e t h e l i k e l i h o o d t h a t i t w i l l b e a v a l u a b l e s p e c i e s on t h e
stump i n t h e n e a r f u t u r e .
HISTORIC PRODUCTS
Some of t h e h i s t o r i c p r o d u c t s f o r which w e s t e r n j u n i p e r h a s been
used a r e : f e n c e p o s t s , d e c o r a t i v e boughs, and firewood. Within w e s t e r n
j u n i p e r ' s r a n g e i t i s t o u t e d a s a f e n c e p o s t . According t o r e s u l t s from
Oregon S t a t e u n i v e r s i t y ' s p o s t farm ( M i l l e r and Graham 1971), western
j u n i p e r p o s t s have l a s t e d a s l o n g a s 40 y e a r s i n w e s t e r n Oregon's
damp c l i m a t e . The a v e r a g e l i f e of p o s t s which had decayed by t h a t t i m e
was 22 y e a r s . This i n d i c a t e s a n e x c e p t i o n a l l y good s e r v i c e l i f e ,
e s p e c i a l l y when compared t o l o d g e p o l e and ponderosa p i n e i n t h e same
a r e a which have an u n t r e a t e d s e r v i c e l i f e o f between 3 t o 6 y e a r s .
It should b e noted however, t h a t t h e p o s t farm w a s set up i n 1927 and
t h e p o s t s used c o n t a i n e d a h i g h p e r c e n t a g e o f heartwood. Today, many
j u n i p e r p o s t s are b e i n g used t h a t a r e l a r g e l y sapwood. Untreated,
t h e s e have no more decay r e s i s t a n c e t h a n l o d g e p o l e p i n e .
Western j u n i p e r i s a good f u e l wood, b u r n i n g c l e a n w i t h l i t t l e
smoke and a s h . One complaint i s t h a t i n windy d e s e r t areas t h e shaggy
b a r k t e n d s t o p i c k up wind blown sand and d e b r i s , t h e r e f o r e d u l l i n g
chainsaws more r a p i d l y t h a n o t h e r f u e l woods. I n p r o t e c t e d areas t h i s
i s no problem. D e c o r a t i v e boughs a r e marketed e v e r y y e a r around Christmas
t ime
.
INSECTS AND DISEASE OF WESTERN JUNIPER
Western j u n i p e r i s commonly h o s t t o two m i s t l e t o e s . They are
dense m i s t l e t o e (Phoradendron densom T o r r . ) , ' a n d c o n s t r i c t e d m i s t l e t o e
ligatum Trel.).
While t h e m i s t l e t o e may sometimes c a u s e witches'broom, t h e r e a r e a t l e a s t two r u s t s a t t a c k i n g w e s t e r n j u n i p e r t h a t a l s o
These a r e Gymnosporangium kernidium
commonly c a u s e witches'-broom.
G. b e t h e l i (Kern).
( B e t h e l ) and -
(z.
There a r e a t l e a s t two r o t s which commonly a t t a c k w e s t e r n j u n i p e r ,
sometimes r e n d e r i n g t h e wood u n s u i t a b l e f o r any product. These a r e
j u n i p e r pocket r o t (Fomes j u n i p e r i n u s V. S c h r . ) , a w h i t e pocket r o t ,
and a brown c u b i c l e r o t u s u a l l y found i n t h e b a s a l p o r t i o n s of t h e
t r u n k . The pocket r o t g e n e r a l l y w i l l extend f a r t h e r up t h e tree t h a n
w i l l t h e brown c u b i c l e r o t . A few f e e t of "long b u t t i n g " w i l l o f t e n
g e t r i d of t h e brown c u b i c l e r o t . Some t r e e s which have been a f f e c t e d
f o r l o n g p e r i o d s of t i m e a r e hollow f o r most o f t h e i r l e n g t h . I n some
t r e e s b o t h r o t s occur and o t h e r times t h e y a p p e a r s i n g u l a r l y .
A longhorned wood b o r e r (Callidium c a l i f o r n i c u m Casey) a t t a c k s
w e s t e r n j u n i p e r ; t h e l a r v a e b o r e i n t o wood, b o t h w e t and dry. K i l n
d r y i n g k i l l s t h e l a r v a e o f t h i s roundheaded b o r e r , b u t i f m a t e r i a l i s
a i r d r i e d , t h e i n s e c t w i l l e v e n t u a l l y work i t s way o u t . There a r e a l s o
some f l a t h e a d e d b o r e r s which o c c a s i o n a l l y a t t a c k w e s t e r n j u n i p e r .
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Oils
--
Fahey and Kurth (1955) completed a chemical a n a l y s i s of t h e volat i l e o i l s from t h e f o l i a g e and t e r m i n a l branches of w e s t e r n j u n i p e r i n
1953. They found t h a t t h e v o l a t i l e o i l s i n c l u d e d t h e following:
d -pinene, f - p h e l l a n d r e n e , d i p e n t e n e , P-cymene, s a b i n e n e , t e r p i nolene, .d- t e r p i n e n e , t e r p i n e n , 6 - b o r n e o l , b o r n e o l a c e t a t e , cadinene,
a c e t i c a c i d , phenols, and t r a c e s of aldeydes.
I n 1972 and 1973, t h e Four Corners Regional Commission funded a
j u n i p e r o i l demonstration p r o j e c t (1973). T h i s p r o j e c t was a n economic
p i l o t p r o j e c t t o produce e s s e n t i a l o i l s from J u n i p e r u s osteosperma
P r o f e s s o r Walter B. Johnson of Utah
(Torr.) and J. scopulorm (Sarg.).
S t a t e u n i v e r s i t y i s o l a t e d e s s e n t i a l o i l s from t h e s e s p e c i e s i n 1964.
The e s s e n t i a l o i l s a r e valued as a . f l a v o r i n g o r s c e n t i n g a g e n t i n s o a p s ,
a e r o s o l s , i n s e c t i c i d e s , b e v e r a g e s , medicines, and many o t h e r products.
The v o l a t i l e o i l s from w e s t e r n j u n i p e r a r e q u i t e similar t o t h e v o l a t i l e
o i l s t h a t were c o l l e c t from J u n i p e r u s osteosperma and J . scopulorum.
There a r e markets f o r t h e s e o i l s .
Kurth and Ross (1954) e x t r a c t e d e s s e n t i a l o i l s from w e s t e r n j u n i p e r
wood i n . 1 9 5 4 . E n t i r e t r u n k s and b a r k were used i n t h i s experiment. The
major o i l d e r i v e d w a s c e d r o l . A t t h a t t i m e adequate amounts of c e d r o l
could b e e x t r a c t e d from j u n i p e r wood t o make-an economic p r o c e s s , b u t
. w e s t e r n j u n i p e r c e d r o l c o n t a i n s a n o i l y odor which i s n o t d e s i r a b l e f o r
s c e n t i n g o r f l a v o r i n g . The i n v e s t i g a t o r s however, o b t a i n e d c r y s t a l i z e d
c e d r o l w i t h a p l e a s a n t odor by u s i n g low steam p r e s s u r e s . The i n v e s t i g a t o r s commented t h a t t h e o i l y odor could probably b e removed from
c e d r o l o b t a i n e d under h i g h e r p r e s s u r e t o make i t c o m p e t i t i v e i n t h e
e s s e n t i a l o i l market. A s u b s t a n t i a l i n c r e a s e i n t o t a l amounts of o i l
recovered o c c u r r e d under h i g h e r p r e s s u r e s .
Lumber
Logs coming i n t o t h e m i l l a r e rough w i t h r a p i d t a p e r and s h o r t
l e n g t h s . Most of t h e l o g s a r e extremely limby except t h o s e grown on
On most s i t e s b a r k
b e t t e r sites among ponderosa p i n e and Douglas-fir.
i n c l u s i o n s go deep i n t o t h e wood. The l o g s have i n s e c t and d i s e a s e
problems a l o n g w i t h n a i l s , l e a d , w i r e , and t h e l i k e .
J u n i p e r h a s a r e p u t a t i o n of warping and t w i s t i n g when d r y i n g , b e i n g
d i f f i c u l t t o p l a n e smooth, and f o r s p l i t t i n g . It does n o t d e s e r v e t h i s
r e p u t a t i o n . The wood h a s been a i r d r i e d by e n t r e p r e n e u r s f o r making
f u r n i t u r e and n o v e l t y p r o d u c t s f o r many y e a r s . The wood, e s p e c i a l l y i f
c u t i n t o f a i r l y t h i n b o a r d s , k i l n d r i e s v e r y w e l l . Kozlik (1976) r e Besides k i l n d r y i n g ,
p o r t s on k i l n d r y i n g s c h e d u l e s f o r w e s t e r n j u n i p e r .
any slow d r y i n g p r o c e s s a p p e a r s t o work q u i t e w e l l f o r j u n i p e r .
During 1973 and 1974, Gary Johnson, S t a t e S e r v i c e F o r e s t e r , and
t h e a u t h o r attempted a i r d r y i n g by s e v e r a l methods w i t h v a r y i n g r e s u l t s .
Rough lumber i n 1-inch, 2-inch, and 4-inch s t o c k w a s d r l e d . The
methods of d r y i n g were p r i n c i p a l l y a slow, even d r y i n g p r o c e s s through
d i f f e r e n t means (Brown 1976). One sample i n c l u d e d j u n i p e r wrapped i n
a t a r p and hung i n a shed where a i r d r y i n g wouldn't remove m o i s t u r e t o o
r a p i d l y . Other methods of a i r d r y i n g i n c l u d e d s t o r i n g under a d r y
b u i l d i n g and c u r i n g i n d r y sawdust. Drying r e s u l t e d i n l i t t l e warp o r
checking i n t h e 1-inch boards.
I n t h e 2-inch and 4-inch b o a r d s , cracki n g and s p l i t t i n g was s u b s t a n t i a l e x c e p t i n t h e sample wrapped i n a
t a r p . One c r a f t s m a n recommends d r y i n g on end i n t h e shade o u t of t h e
b r e e z e . Drying j u n i p e r p r o p e r l y i s no mystery. Craftsmen who s u g g e s t e d
t h e s e t e c h n i q u e s were mostly from c e n t r a l Oregon and i n c l u d e Ralph
B a i l e y and T. D. Sexton of Bend-and B i l l Koi of S i s t e r s .
F i n i s h i n g sawn p r o d u c t s c a u s e s some d i f f i c u l t y . J u n i p e r g r a i n conGary Gumpert of J u n i p e r P r o d u c t s , Inc.
t i n u a l l y p i c k s up when planed.
i n P r i n e v i l l e s o l v e d t h i s problem by u s i n g a b r a s i v e p l a n e r s , e s s e n t i a l l y
a series of i n d u s t r i a l s a n d e r s , t o o b t a i n a s a t i s f a c t o r y f i n i s h . While
a b r a s i v e p l a n i n g i s n o t commonly used i n t h i s a r e a , i t i s n o t , by any
means, a new method used i n t h e wood p r o d u c t s i n d u s t r y .
The c o l o r o f t h e wood can v a r y a g r e a t d e a l . The most common
c o l o r s found are a s t r i k i n g l y w h i t e sapwood w i t h heartwood which v a r i e s
from a l i g h t y e l l o w t o a y e l l o w i s h o r a n g e and r a r e l y almost r e d . I n
some a r e a s i n d i v i d u a l trees may b e c l o s e t o r e d , some c l o s e t o b l a c k
and some may b e g r e a s y i n composition. The wood h a s a p l e a s a n t a r o m a t i c
q u a l i t y b u t i t i s n o t a s a r o m a t i c as many members of t h e c e d a r family.
I f t h e aroma f a d e s o v e r t i m e , i t c a n b e r e v i v e d by sanding.
Veneer
Juniper can be e i t h e r turned o r s l i c e d t o o b t a i n a high q u a l i t y
f a c i n g product f o r plywood.
Barger and F f o l l i o t t (1972) r e p o r t on
p h y s i c a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of some j u n i p e r s p e c i e s i n New P4exico and
Arizona s t a t e d t h a t v e n e e r t u r n e d o r s l i c e d makes a n a t t r a c t i v e product.
'The Edward Hines v e n e e r m i l l i n M t . Vernon, Oregon, r o t a r y c u t some
j u n i p e r veneer. The Edward Hines.'Plywood p l a n t a t ~ i n e s ,Oregon d r i e d
and glued t h e veneer. The l a t h e w a s s e t f o r c u t t i n g Douglas-fir a t
t h r e e - s i x t e e n t h s of a n inch. Consequently, t h e r e w a s some c r a c k i n g and
s p l i t t i n g of v e n e e r which would n o t t a k e p l a c e i f t h e b o l t s were e i t h e r
steamed b e f o r e t u r n i n g o r t h e l a t h e p r e s s u r e changed s l i g h t l y . M r .
Asher, Manager of t h e Plywood P l a n t , w a s o f t h e o p i n i o n t h a t t h e r e would
b e no d i f f i c u l t y i n s u c c e s s f u l l y t u r n i n g j u n i p e r .
Manufactured Boards
Frashour and Nixon (1956) of t h e Oregon F o r e s t Research Laboratory
i n C o r v a l l i s produced some hardboard from e x t r a c t e d j u n i p e r c h i p s . The
j u n i p e r c h i p s were t h e ones from which Kurth and Ross had e x t r a c t e d
e s s e n t i a l o i l s . The hardboard o b t a i n e d possessed s u p e r i o r bending
s t r e n g t h and w a t e r r e s i s t a n c e b u t d i d n o t have toughness p r o p e r t i e s
t h a t some o t h e r w e s t e r n s p e c i e s have. An advantage t o u s i n g j u n i p e r a s
hardboard was t h e uniformly c o l o r e d and semi-glossy f i n i s h o b t a i n e d
w i t h o u t t h e use of w a t e r s p r a y . Frashour and Nixon i n d i c a t e d t h a t t h e
i n f e r i o r toughness c o u l d probably b e t r a c e d t o t h e extended c h i p steaming i n order t o obtain v o l a t i l e o i l s .
A t e c h n i c a l a c t i o n p a n e l of Wheeler County headed by M r . Hubert
Asher o f Spray looked i n t o t h e f e a s i b i l i t y of producing p a r t i c l e b o a r d
from whole j u n i p e r t r e e s . T h i s p r o j e c t took p l a c e i n t h e p e r i o d of
1964 t o 1966. The r e s u l t s of t h e s t u d y r e p o r t e d by Ray C u r r i e r , Oregon
F o r e s t Research L a b o r a t o r y , were t h a t t h e p a r t i c l e b o a r d c o u l d e a s i l y
b e formed and d i d p o s s e s s a r o m a t i c q u a l i t i e s . A t t h a t t i m e t h e amount
of m a t e r i a l a v a i l a b l e a s r e s i d u e f o r m i l l s f o r p a r t i c l e b o a r d outcompeted
t h e h a r v e s t i n g of j u n i p e r f o r t h i s t y p e of product.
COMMERCIAL USES OF JUNIPER
The F o r e s t P r o d u c t s L a b o r a t o r y a t Madison, Wisconsin, conducted a
b r a i n s t o r m i n g s e s s i o n on u t i l i z a t i o n of j u n i p e r and developed t h e
f o l l o w i n g i d e a s : t o y s , s p o r t i n g goods, compost, j e w e l r y boxes, c h i c k e n
f e e d t o make g i n f l a v o r e d eggs, b l o c k f l o o r i n g , p a t i o f l o o r i n g , stems
f o r p l a s t i c trees, condiment f o r cooking, w i l d l i f e f e e d , s u i t c a s e l i n e r s ,
humidors, p i p e bowls from r o o t s , f u r n i t u r e , d e c o r a t i v e f e n c e s , p l a n t e r s ,
i n l a y p r o d u c t s , p a n e l i n g , Christmas d e c o r a t i o n s , n o v e l t i e s , c l o s e t
l i n e r s , a d d i t i v e f o r men's c o s m e t i c s , v o l a t i l e s , f l a v o r i n g , bedding from
s h a v i n g s , condiment f o r cooking game from b e r r i e s , and s i g n s . The
C a l i f o r n i a D i v i s i o n of F o r e s t r y h a s shipped some l o g s t o J a p a n which
were p e e l e d and f i n i s h e d by s a n d i n g t o a h i g h g l o s s and used a s exposed
There
i n t e r i o r s t u d s . The e x t e n t of t h i s t y p e of market i s unknown.
h a s been i n t e r e s t e x p r e s s e d by a n e a s t e r n c e d a r c h e s t m a n u f a c t u r e r i n
using juniper f o r chests.
What a r e some o f t h e more f e a s i b l e j u n i p e r p r o d u c t s ? Aromatic o i l s
Western j u n i p e r o i l s may need some r e f i n i n g
may be a p o s s i b l e market.
b e f o r e t h e y a r e c o m p e t i t i v e w i t h o i l s from e a s t e r n r e d c e d a r ( J u n i p e r u s
v i r g i n i a n a L.) and Mexican j u n i p e r (J . -a s h e i Bucholz). The p i l o t p l a n t
i n Blanding, Utah was s u c c e s s f u l i n e x t r a c t i n g v o l a t i l e o i l s which were
s a l e a b l e . However, t h e company formed t o t a k e o v e r t h e p i l o t p r o j e c t
on a f u l l scale b a s i s n e v e r d i d t h a t . T h i s does n o t mean t h a t i s i s n o t
economically f e a s i b l e . More t i m e s t h a n n o t , p i l o t p r o j e c t s of t h i s s o r t
are n o t followed up even though they prove o u t t o b e economically
feasible.
J u n i p e r Products, Inc., i n P r i n e v i l l e i s manufacturing a threee i g h t h s i n c h tongue and groove sawn p a n e l i n g f o r use on both w a l l s and
c l o s e t s . P r e s e n t l y t h e i r product i s being s o l d i n Washington, Oregon
and C a l i f o r n i a . This i s a family o p e r a t i o n , and consequently they a r e
n o t s e l l i n g l a r g e q u a n t i t i e s . Some marketing r e s e a r c h h a s shown t h a t
t h e r e i s a market f o r t h e product i f t h e r e were enough s u p p l i e r s t o
produce i t i n l a r g e r q u a n t i t i e s .
Another product being manufactured by J u n i p e r Products, Inc., and
o t h e r craftmen i n t h e a r e a i s f u r n i t u r e . The easy w o r k a b i l i t y , good
c o l o r , and f i n e f i n i s h of j u n i p e r makes i t a n e x c e l l e n t f u r n i t u r e wood.
I n f a c t , i t i s i n t h e same genera a s t h e e a s t e r n redcedar used f o r
c e d a r c h e s t s and o t h e r f i n e f u r n i t u r e and c l o s e t l i n e r s . The aromatic
q u a l i t i e s a r e not a s good a s e a s t e r n redcedar, but they a r e nonetheless
present.
Juniper's fine finishing q u a l i t i e s
t u r e . The veneer c o u l d be manufactured
s l i c e r . T o t a l recovery i n t h i s process,
high. Expected recovery r a t e s would be
a l s o lend i t t o veneer manuface i t h e r by r o t a r y l a t h e o r by
a s i n sawing, would not be
i n t h e 40 t o 60 percent range.
It i s f e a s i b l e t o manufacture aromatic p a r t i c l e b o a r d from juniper
u s i n g t h e t o t a l t r e e . However, u n t i l p a r t i c l e b o a r d p l a n t s run out of
r e s i d u e m a t e r i a l s from m i l l s which produce o t h e r wood products, i t i s
n o t l i k e l y t h a t j u n i p e r w i l l be used f o r t h i s process.
The wood of j u n i p e r makes. e x c e l l e n t wood p e n c i l s . One of t h e
d i f f i c u l t i e s i n manufacturing t h i s product i s a t t e m p t i n g t o f i n d enough
c l e a r s t o c k without k n o t s w i t h s t r a i g h t g r a i n from which t o make t h e
p e n c i l s . The wood a p p a r e n t l y h a s e x c e l l e n t q u a l i t i e s a s f a r a s wood
p e n c i l s a r e concerned.
Another small c o n t i n u i n g market t h a t i s always a v a i l a b l e i s f o r
d e c o r a t i v e boughs. Around Christmas t i m e buyers a r e always around
j u n i p e r a r e a s buying boughs t h a t a r e w e l l l a d e n w i t h b e r r i e s f o r u s e i n
t h e Christmas market.
Other product p o s s i b i l i t i e s f o r s m a l l e r markets a r e t h e novelty
p r o d u c t s which a r e a l r e a d y b e i n g produced over q u i t e a n e x t e n s i v e a r e a
a s w e l l a s f e n c e p o s t s and even charcoal.
MARKET POTENTIAL
The technology i s a v a i l a b l e t o make products from j u n i p e r .
J u n i p e r i s n o t an impossible wood w i t h which t o work. It i s economical
t o make products from j u n i p e r .
There i s a branch of economics t h a t w i l l
have t o be d e a l t with b e f o r e many people start manufacturing juniper.
T h i s is market r e s e a r c h and development. The market r e s e a r c h and
development done by J u n i p e r P r o d u c t s , I n c . , f o r i n s t a n c e , i n manuf a c t u r i n g of p a n e l i n g and f u r n i t u r e i n d i c a t e s t h a t t h e r e a r e people
d e s i r i n g t o purchase s u b s t a n t i a l amounts of p r o d u c t s made from j u n i p e r
a t present prices.
Logging and h a n d l i n g of j u n i p e r i s an expensive p r o c e s s and recove r y rates a r e low. However, t h e c o s t of h a n d l i n g and manufacturing a r e
n o t t h e c r i t e r i a which d e f i n e whether a product is economic t o market.
The important c r i t e r i o n i s whether t h e v a l u e of t h e product i s a b l e t o
cover t h o s e c o s t s p l u s t h e needed p r o f i t margin.
Before many y e a r s t h e r e l i k e l y w i l l be a s u b s t a n t i a l market f o r
j u n i p e r products.
H i s t o r i c a l l y , i t takes 5 t o 10 y e a r s following a n
i n n o v a t o r and e n t r e p r e n e u r who opens t h e market f o r a p r o d u c t b e f o r e t h e
p r o d u c t r e a l l y sells. Because J u n i p e r P r o d u c t s , I n c . ,
s t a r t e d opera t i n g i n 1974, I would p r e d i c t t h a t by 1984 t h e r e w i l l b e a f a i r s i z e d
market f o r j u n i p e r p r o d u c t s . A c u r i o u s t h i n g about t h e s e t y p e s of
markets i s t h a t J u n i p e r P r o d u c t s , I n c . , q u i t e l i k e l y w i l l n o t b e one of
t h o s e s u p p l y i n g t h i s market. New, more c o n v e n t i o n a l m a n u f a c t u r e r s w i l l
p r o b a b l y supply t h e market. The market f o r j u n i p e r p r o d u c t s w i l l
develop f a s t e r i f and when a good housing boom o c c u r s , o r i f t h e r e i s
a n upswing i n t h e economy of e i t h e r t h e United S t a t e s o r Japan.
MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS
One of t h e r e a s o n s f o r g i v i n g t h i s paper i s a n a t t e m p t t o set some
management c r i t e r i a f o r j u n i p e r , e s p e c i a l l y i f i t i s going t o b e looked
a t from a p r o d u c t s s t a n d p o i n t , The management i m p l i c a t i o n s f o r j u n i p e r
p r o d u c t s would v a r y depending on t h e product f o r which you a r e t r y i n g
t o manage. For i n s t a n c e , i f boards and veneer a r e t h e d e s i r e d product,
i t would b e b e s t t o manage j u n i p e r on t h e m o i s t e r end of i t s r a n g e ,
a l t h o u g h n o t n e c e s s a r i l y i n deep s o i l . A s t r a i g h t e r , t a l l e r t r e e w i t h
fewer small branches and n o t as much b a r k i n c l u s i o n seems t o b e produced where j u n i p e r grows i n mixed s t a n d s w i t h o t h e r f o r e s t t r e e s .
Q u i t e o f t e n t h e heartwood i s a deeper c o l o r which g i v e s b e t t e r g r a i n
c o n t r a s t as f a r as t h e s e p r o d u c t s a r e concerned.
I f j u n i p e r i s t o b e managed f o r lumber o r veneer p r o d u c t s , i n s e c t s
and d i s e a s e s would need some c o n t r o l . Both t h e longhorned wood b o r e r
and t h e pocket r o t s and brown c u b i c l e r o t a r e problem a r e a s .
I f management i s f o r p r o d u c t i o n of o i l s , j u n i p e r on open grown o r
invasion-of-rangeland c o n d i t i o n s may b e t h e b e s t . These j u n i p e r s t e n d
t o produce many b r a n c h e s and n e e d l e s from which more e s s e n t i a l o i l s c a n
b e e x t r a c t e d . Branches and n e e d l e s tend t o g i v e more of t h e a r o m a t i c
f l a v o r t h a t may b e d e s i r e d i n a p a r t i c l e b o a r d product.
U n l e s s t h e m a r k e t f o r j u n i p e r p r o d u c t s becomes much l a r g e r and
much more s t a b l e t h a n p r e d i c t e d from p r e s e n t c o n d i t i o n s , j u n i p e r s t a n d s
s h o u l d n o t b e managed f o r a p r o d u c t .
I n s t e a d management might i n c l u d e
e r a d i c a t i o n methods w h i l e r i d i n g on t h e n o v e l t y of j u n i p e r m a r k e t s .
T h i s way t h e wood w i l l b e u t i l i z e d and p e r h a p s t h e c o s t of r a n g e r e h a b i l i t a t i o n w i l l be d e c r e a s e d .
RESEARCH NEEDS
R e s e a r c h n e e d s m e n t i o n e d h e r e are i n r e g a r d s t o p r o d u c t s made f r o m
juniper.
These n e e d s c e r t a i n l y are n o t l i s t e d i n o r d e r of i m p o r t a n c e
a s t h e i m p o r t a n c e w i l l depend somewhat on t h e e v e n t u a l development o f
markets.
I n s e c t and d i s e a s e i n c i d e n c e .
I n f l u e n c e of e n v i r o n m e n t a l f a c t o r s on q u a l i t y of p r o d u c t .
Veneer s l i c i n g .
C o n t a c t w i t h o n e v e n e e r s l i c i n g m i l l found
them r e l u c t a n t t o t r y s l i c i n g j u n i p e r .
They d i d n o t t h i n k
t h e r e was a l a r g e enough s u p p l y t o keep them g o i n g i n t h i s
market.
Marketing of p r o d u c t s . As i n d i c a t e d earlier i n t h i s paper,
t h i s may b e t h e most i m p o r t a n t r e s e a r c h need a t t h i s t i m e .
R e s e a r c h on t h e m o d i f i c a t i o n of t h e p r o p e r t i e s of cedarwood
o i l s from w e s t e r n j u n i p e r .
T h i s would make them more comp e t i t i v e w i t h o i l s from o t h e r j u n i p e r s .
Product r e s e a r c h t o f i n d u s e s f o r western j u n i p e r o i l i n its
natural condition.
T h i s would b e
I n v e n t o r y o f amount and q u a l i t y of j u n i p e r .
n e c e s s a r y i n f o r m a t i o n f o r m a r k e t development.
REFERENCES
B a r g e r , R. L..,.and P. F. F f o E o t t .
1972. P h y s i c a l C h a r a c t e r i s t i c s and
U t i l i z a t i o n of Major Woodland T r e e S p e c i e s i n A r i z o n a .
USDA F o r e s t S e r v .
Res. Pap. RM-83, 8 0 p . , i l l u s . Rocky M t . F o r e s t and Range Exp. S t n . ,
F o r t C o l l i n s , Colo.
Brown, T. D.
8 3 3 , 11 p.
1976.
Air-Drying Luinber.
Ore. S t a t e Univ. Ext. B u l l e t i n
C u r r i e r , R. A.
1968. L e t t e r t o S t e e l e B a r n e t t .
B u i l d i n g P r o d u c t s , P. 0. Box 200, B o i s e , Idaho.
2 p.,
B o i s e Cascade
1955. Composition o f t h e V o l a t i l e O i l
Fahey, M. D., and E. F. Kurth.
From t h e F o l i a g e and T e r m i n a l B r a n c h e s o f Western J u n i p e r . J. Amer.
Pharm. Assoc. S c i . Ed. 44 (2) :87-89.
Four C o r n e r s R e g i o n a l Commission.
1973.
J u n i p e r O i l D e m o n s t r a t i o n P r o j e c t , 20 p.,
F i n a l R e p o r t : Four C o r n e r s
Farmington, New Mexico.
F r a s h o u r , R. G., and G. D. Nixon. 1956.
J u n i p e r Chips. For. Prod. J. 6(2):73-76.
Kozlik, C h a r l e s .
26 (8) :45-46.
1976.
Hardboard from E x t r a c t e d
K i l n Drying o f Western J u n i p e r .
Kurth, E. F., and J. D. Ross. 1954.
O r e . For. Prod. Lab Rpt. C-3, 20 p.
For. Prod. J.
V o l a t i l e O i l From Western J u n i p e r .
Miller, Donald J., and Robert D. Graham. 1971. S e r v i c e L i f e of T r e a t e d
and U n t r e a t e d Fence P o s t s . For. R e s . Lab. Prog. Rpt. 1 4 , 18 p.
*US
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1978-797-E-51