Wooden You Believe It! Trivia Quiz

Answer: dendrology

Dendrology is the name given to the science and study of trees, and the person who does this for a career is called a dendrologist. Dendrochronology is the name given to the method used to study tree rings to determine the age of the tree. Some samples can be dated back thousands of years and yield important information regarding historical and social conditions of the time.

Eremology relates to the study of deserts, selenology is the study of the moon and apiology is the study of bees.

Answer: persimmon

Persimmon belongs to the genus of trees called Diospyros, which belongs to the same family as ebony. It is a hardwood, and up until the end of the 20th century was the most popular wood for making the wooden heads (called 'woods') of top-of-the-range golf clubs.

It was also used for making longbows and some pieces of antique wooden furniture and paneling, particularly in Japan and Korea. The tree has edible fruits, which have a wide variety of culinary uses both sweet and savoury. Nowadays, the heads of golf clubs are generally manufactured from metal.

Answer: woodworm

Woodworm is the general name given to the larvae of various wood-boring beetles which, after hatching, feed on the wood where their eggs were laid. This can have a devastating effect on wooden furniture and wooden structures in buildings, favouring, but not limited to, damp areas. The problem perpetuates itself once the adult beetles lay their own eggs to start the cycle all over again, and needs swift treatment to eliminate further damage. Treatment is generally with pesticides and is best done professionally which, although costly, can save the affected piece and go a long way to preventing the problem recurring.

The woodlouse, commonly considered an insect, is in fact a crustacean. Although it can be a pest in the garden and make an appearance in damp homes, it does not damage furniture or wooden structures.

Answer: white willow

The game of cricket originated in late 16th century England and is England's national sport. Early bats had a curved end similar to a hockey stick before the bat evolved into the familiar modern shape. Bats are made from the wood of a particular variety of white willow which is given the nickname of 'Cricket Bat Willow'.

The wood selected for each cricket bat is treated with linseed oil to enhance its durability, and newly made bats need to be toughened up by their owner in a process known as 'knocking in', to acclimatise the bat to the rigours that will be placed upon it.

This is achieved by hitting it with a mallet or old cricket bat to compact it and by further applications of linseed oil; this process strengthens the bat and extends its life.

Answer: Dutch

Dutch elm disease is a fungal disease spread by species of elm bark beetles. The disease was first isolated in the Netherlands, hence the name. It was first detected in 1910, and arrived in the UK in the 1920s. There was a particularly disastrous outbreak in the UK in the late 1960s, which killed an estimated 20 million trees, around two thirds of the country's total. As well as affecting much of Europe, Dutch elm disease has also caused widespread epidemics and loss as far afield as the United States and Canada.

The elm has been the subject of extensive conservation and research work over the years, much of which has taken place in the Netherlands and America.

Answer: Tunbridge ware

Tunbridge ware is named after the Kentish town of Tonbridge and the nearby fashionable spa town of Tunbridge Wells, where many examples were made during the 18th and early 19th centuries. The process, which was very painstaking, involved building up a 'picture' from minute slivers of varying colours of wood, a little like a mosaic. As well as sewing boxes, tea caddies, glove boxes etc., the technique was also used on inlaid panels and small pieces of furniture such as the tops of games tables and sewing tables. Tunbridge ware is particularly sought after when the 'picture' depicts a church or castle; many such pieces are very elaborate, and can be valuable. An interesting collection of Tunbridge ware is housed in the Tunbridge Wells Museum.

There are other crafts that also centre around the use of inlaid wood to great effect, including marquetry and parquetry. Made in a similar way, marquetry comprises natural shapes, whereas parquetry is made up of strictly geometrical patterns.

Answer: treen

Many useful household objects were made from wood, such as spoons, snuff boxes, needle and bodkin cases etc., prior to the Industrial Revolution. Nowadays such items are often made of metal, plastic and other materials. Many old and antique pieces of treen are highly decorative as well as being functional and can command good prices. Wooden furniture is not technically classed as treen.

Answer: caber

The caber is usually made from larch wood and has a length of about 19½ feet. It weighs in the region of 175 pounds, so it's definitely a sport for strong men! 'Tossing the caber' as the event is known, is one of the athletic events of the Highland Games, which originated in Scotland, possibly as early as the 11th century during the reign of King Malcolm III of Scotland, although modern origins stem from the Victorian era. Other Highland Games include the hammer toss, stone put and weight throw.

The largest Highland Games in Scotland is the Cowal Highland Gathering, which is held each August in Dunoon, Argyll. Highland Games also take place in many other countries worldwide, including the Unites States, Canada, Bermuda and Switzerland.

Answer: cork

The Quercus suber tree is more commonly known as the Cork Oak, and is mainly found in south-west Europe and North Africa. Spain and Portugal are the world's largest producers, but some cork is also produced in Asia from the Chinese Cork Oak tree.

Cork production is an environmentally friendly industry. Once it is mature, the trees' bark is stripped every ten years and the trees themselves have a lifespan of around 200 years, so it is highly sustainable. It is a very lightweight material and floats in water without absorbing any, and is also fire-resistant, which makes it ideal for a variety of purposes. As well as the uses described in the question, cork is also used in the making of shoes and bulletin boards, and is even used in the manufacture of heat shields for spacecraft!

Answer: Thomas Chippendale

Born in Otley, Yorkshire, Thomas Chippendale (1718-1779) was the son of a joiner, and became a designer and cabinet-maker in mid-18th century London. He was the father of eleven children from his two marriages. His book, 'The Gentleman and Cabinet Maker's Director', was the first English book of furniture design to promote the trade; first published in 1754, it was so popular it was reprinted twice. Chippendale's designs were in the Neoclassical and British Rococo styles and his business was very successful during his lifetime. After his death one of his sons, also called Thomas Chippendale, inherited and ran the business until he was unfortunately made bankrupt in 1813.

Thomas Sheraton and George Hepplewhite were, with Chippendale, known as 'the big three' cabinet makers of the time, and John Linnell was another noted cabinet-maker of the same period.

The male striptease dance troupe 'The Chippendales' was founded in the USA in 1979 and has performed in many cities across the world, including those in South America, Europe and South Africa.