sometimes used, but must be encased in epoxy resin to exclude moisture. The wood is normally kiln dried to 12% moisture in long, clear lengths. It is available treated with a range of chemical salts, or untreated. Chemical salt treatment is well proven and such timber is frequently used in the ground as posts and poles as part of structures such as retaining walls and pole houses. The name applied to this treatment is tanalized wood. H1 and H2 treatment is suited to indoor use. H3 is the standard house timber and this grade is used for fence palings. H4 and H5 are the standard for inground use. In New Zealand a 1995 change to no longer require boron treatment in house framing timber, was a key factor in the leaky homes crisis, but since 2003 a series of changes have now improved the regulations. Lower grade timber is converted to pulp to make newsprint. Higher grade timber is used in house construction. P. radiata is used chipped to make particle board sheets, commonly used in flooring. Other sheet products are hardboard, softboard and ply. Most ply is structural and available in sizes. A small amount of higher grade ply is used to produce thinner () ply suitable for furniture, cabinet work and boat building. This is knot and crack free and glued with resorcinol waterproof glue. Since the 1990s finger jointed joinery-grade wood has become available in up to lengths in a wide range of profiles. In 1958, New Zealand boat designer Des Townson started building 186 , cold-moulded Zephyr-class dinghies, using P. radiata. In 2011 these hand-built boats fetched very high prices and were generally in excellent condition. The bark is used as a substrate for potting and re-potting orchids. P. radiata is the most common species of Christmas tree in Australia and New Zealand. In California, P. radiata is commonly planted to block wind or noise, or for ornamental reasons. References Bibliography León de la Luz, José Luis; Rebman, Jon P. & Oberbauer, Thomas (2003). On the urgency of conservation on Guadalupe Island, Mexico: is it a lost paradise? Biodiversity and Conservation 12(5): 1073–1082. (HTML abstract) External links Calflora Database: Pinus radiata (Monterey pine) Jepson Manual eFlora (TJM2) treatment of Pinus radiata Conifers.org – Pinus radiata US Forest Service UC CalPhotos gallery – Pinus radiata Pinus radiata – genetic conservation units European Forest Genetic Resources Programme (EUFORGEN)