I02 



FOREST COMMISSIONERS REPORT. 



oak. Basswood is a prolific sprouter, and the renewal of the 

 stand may be secured by taking advantage of this characteristic. 

 To secure vigorous sprouts the trees should be felled in winter 

 and the stumps cut low, smooth, and slanting. 



Basswood timber is soft, straight-grained, and easily worked, 

 but not durable in contact with the soil. It is not strong and 

 shrinks considerably in drying. Throughout the country it is 

 used for furniture, woodenware, cooperage, and ties. Its ease 

 of working made basswood the favorite wood among Maine 

 toy makers. Much of it was made into certain kinds of lasts 

 and fillers, and much into woodenware. Most of the wood 

 going into boxes was cut into thin veneer and made into the 

 very small boxes used by the drug trade. This wood also went 

 into three-piece spools. 



Aspen (Popple.) 



TABLE 11. 



The aspens of Maine include both quaking aspen and large- 

 tooth aspen. Both of these are cold-enduring and moisture- 

 loving trees. For their best growth, they require deep, fresh or 

 moist, porous and well-drained soil; sandy loams mixed with 

 decayed vegetable matter are especially suitable. However, 



