THE PRODUCTS AND USES OF BIRCH 



199 



pur[wse. Birch is also emploved to a considerable extent 

 for panelling in railway cars. 



The wood of sweet birch makes a handsome and dnr- 

 ablc floor, if it is thoroughly seasoned when laid. It is a 

 choice luml)er for finishing the interior of high-class 

 dwellings. Such use includes ornamental columns, newel 

 posts, stair rails and spindles, moldings, mantels, window 

 ;ind door frames. Doors made of sweet Ijircli -avc 

 especially attractive. Wood with a curly or wavy grain 

 is often used in this class of work. Much sweet birch 

 lumber is alsn used for ceiling and wainscoting. It is 

 a favorite wood for finishing and fi.xtures in offices, 

 stores, banks, bars and hotels. 



In the manufacture of artists' materials this wood is 

 selected for easels, rules, palettes and panels for oil paint- 

 ing. Considerable birch is used in the finish of hi<jh- 



ALI, TIlIiSE ARK MADE OF BIRCH 



Birch is highly prized as raw material for novelty turnings. One fac- 

 tory alone manufactures nearly 1,000 difterent articles. The photo- 

 graph shows turned hoxes, huttons, spools, shoe tree plugs, etc., 

 made from paper birch. 



lilRCII PRODfCTS 



Tlte annual consumption of yellow and sweet birch by the furniture in- 

 dustry amounts to over 50,000,000 feet. This material is purchased 

 in the form of lumber and dimension squares and is used for all 

 types of both house and office furniture. Birch when properly 

 finished makes a splendid imitation fur mahogany, and is often 

 treated in this way. 



Lake States it is a highly important lumber-producing 

 tree. As a furniture wood it is not considered the equal 

 of sweet birch, but cannot be easily distinguished and is 

 much used. The natural grain of the wood, when fin- 

 ished, is not as soft and lustrous as that of sweet birch, 

 Ijut the furniture made from it is handsome, strong and 

 substantial. It is used both as an outside and inside 

 wood in the manufacture of desks, tables, stands, chairs, 

 benches, filing cabinets, and fi.xtures for stores, offices, 

 banks and bars. In the manufacture of vehicles yellow 

 birch is well fitted for certain uses because it is hard, 

 strong and stiff, and is employed in much the same 

 manner as sweet birch. It enters to a large e.xtent into 

 the manufacture of wooden dishes and handles of many 

 kinds ; also pill boxes, school supplies and other novel- 

 ties. The miscellaneous uses of yellow birch range from 

 grain doors down to toothpicks. For most purposes 

 either the sweet birch or the paper birch is preferred to 

 yellow birch, but wherever the latter is used it gives 

 good satisfaction because it is one of the stiffest and 

 strongest woods obtainable. 



class canoes, motor boats and yachts. It is a favorite 

 for billiard tables and cues and even billiard balls. Dumb- 

 bells. Indian clubs, croquet mallets and balls, and build- 

 ing blocks, and similar articles are mostly made of birch. 

 Since the European war the demand for gunstocks has 

 been so heavy that this wood has been extensively sub- 

 stituted for walnut. It also enters into the manufacture 

 of agricultural implements, broom and brush handles, 

 tackle blocks, picture frames, tripods, instruments and 

 tools. It is used to some extent in slack barrels, wooden- 

 ware, coffins and work benches. .\ long list of other 

 uses might be mentioned. 



Yellow birch is not so widely distributed in the United 

 States as the sweet birch, but in New York and the 



s 



BIRCH IS HIGHLY PRIZED AS A TURNING WOOD 



I'or this reason it is extensively employed in the manufacture of twisters, 

 speeders and bobbins for use in textile mills. The photograph 

 shows various styles of thes" articles in the rough and the squares 

 from %\'hich they are made 



