wood technology

I am interested in the best source for descriptions of all kinds of woods for crafting and carving. Any suggestions for encyclopedic information on all kinds of wood?
What is the wood particularly good for? (e.g. Basswood best for general carving, chip carving, etc.) How much should it cost per board foot? Where is it best grown? (Canada, U.S. So. America?) What is it not good for? (turnng?) Is it a threatened species? How to harvest or buy wood, moisture content, etc. How to air dry if I do not have a kiln?

I am sure there are books, articles out there on such questions, but I need a 'best' recommendation. I will be interested in the answer since I bet many people have similar questions.

Here I am answering my own question on Wood technology. Ha!

I recently discovered a source of information that sound really good for what I was seeking
It is a CD-ROM called 'Woods explorer CD' I think it is somehow related to another CD called 'Woods of the World' but am not sure about that.

Find out more about it at:
http://www.toolcenter.com/wood/wow.html#anchor181961

The woods of the world info is at:
http://www.forestworld.com/wow.cfm