Holly for bows?

[Inuumarue]

My landlord has decided that the two holly trees on the property need to go.  Too close to the house, water lines, ect, just bad planning on the landscapers parts.  Anyway, these buggers are about two stories tall and multi-trunked, about 2-4 to a tree and about 4-5in in diameter with a mess of branches.  I was thinking I could get a good amount of staves out the them, with clean sides on the inside facing parts of the trunk. So, my questions:

Anyone have any experience with holly?  Particularly how to dry the stuff and how to design for it?

[Dick in Seattle]

Can't help you with stave info as I don't do selfbows.  However, holly is beautiful clear white wood and very useful for contrast laminations in risers, wood boxes, etc.  It may or may not be useful for a selfbow, but even if it isn't, don't let it get away from.

[Rainshooter]

tbb says it has a .50sg or so, however I read a woodworkers book by a gentlemen named Terry Porter. and he reports around .70. I got myself a nice 6ft long log I'm waiting to tackle again. I tried to split it really nice and slow, but the split went around the stave at least 45 degrees. That same woodworkers book stated it had fine interlocking grain and was hard on blades. that said bow material to me. I havent tried to tackle it again but i would reccomend you cut rather than split. Like Dick said its beautiful wood solid white. At least keep some for accents or overlays. Btw they use it for a replacement for ebony, they just dye it black.

[Dick in Seattle]

I have a nice piece of holly I've been saving because I also have a nice piece of ebony... can you say, "Wow, what a riser?"  8^)