The thermal degradation behaviors of various wood species have been studied from 200 degrees to 650 degrees C by TG and DTG in an atmosphere of nitrogen. The data show a complex pattern of overlapping DTG peaks. This is in contrast to a-cellulose thermal degradations. It is demonstrated that computer simulations can describe all the patterns of behavior on the basis of two overlapping mechanisms, differing in their reaction order and Arrhenius parameters. It is emphasized that, although such simulations can be drawn up on a computer, there are an infinite number of solutions to two overlapping peaks.