Martin Rand schreef
(I realize this also has something to do with how 'hard' the hardwood is.)

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I am not sure that there is a connection between hardness and pulpability.
They can do a lot with chemicals these days.

In a rational world hard woods could be used for better purposes than pulp.
Quite often hard woods are durable woods
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I was
merely worried that you were suggesting Douglas Fir and False Acacia
planations were 'high quality' in comparison with the native
hardwoods, and making an argument for replacing one with the other.

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Actually there is a foundation here which does advocate planting Robinia on
a large scale. This actually did happen on a large scale in Hungary, which
BTW has a more suitable climate for this species.
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And I realize that as an economic proposition, the Oak that takes
120-150 years to realize its highest market value has an uphill
struggle against a crop requiring 30-50.
Martin (off-duty)
Chandlers Ford, Hampshire

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The long cycle of oak is indeed a big problem from a economic/financial
point of view. In more and more parts of the world there are now tree crops
with a cycle of less than 10 years.
PvR