The single most revealing property of wood as an indicator of wood quality is specific gravity (Timell 1986), as both <answer>pulp yield</answer> and lumber strength are determined by it. Specific gravity is the ratio of the mass of a substance to the mass of an equal volume of water; density is the ratio of a mass of a quantity of a substance to the volume of that quantity and is expressed in mass per unit substance, e.g., grams per millilitre (g/cm3 or g/ml). The terms are essentially equivalent as long as the metric system is used. Upon drying, wood shrinks and its density increases. Minimum values are associated with green (water-saturated) wood and are referred to as basic specific gravity (Timell 1986).
In addition to lumber strength, what important indicator of wood's quality can be determined using specific gravity?
pulp yield