All lumber is divided as a matter of convenience into two great groups: softwoods and hardwoods. The softwoods in general are the coniferous or cone-bearing trees (such as the various pines, spruces, hemlocks, ?rs, and cedar). The hardwoods are the non–cone-bearing trees (such as the maple, oak, and poplar). These terms are used as a matter of custom, for not all so-called softwoods are soft, nor are all so-called hardwoods necessarily hard. In fact, such softwoods as long-leaf southern pine and Douglas ?r are much harder than poplar, basswood, and so on, which are called hardwoods. Read more...