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Utilization of Basswood 



\ltluiiij;li liiissWd.i.l 1- 1:..! ..• r III.- iiinst iin|iiirliiiil liiir.lu.. 



tcriug iiitu our IuiiiUt truilo in |Kjiiit uf aiiiiuiil cut, it ih ilfiiiiiii<it-il in 

 M> ninny itifrorfiit lines of utiliuition tli:it it is ({cnernlly reconnizctl 

 nit inili!i|H'n!<nl>le for a great variety of uses. Wliito jiino is usually 

 acropto)! as the most UKoful all nrounil i-onifor. In the same way, it 

 is rlaimril by many that basswooil is tlu> most useful all around 

 hanlwooil. Hardwoods as a rla:-s are tievotcd largely to specialized 

 lines of utilization and basswood perliaps reaches as many of thet<o 

 lines as any other. 



The reason for this is that the wood seasons with very little dif- 

 ficulty and when once dry it seldom warps or shrinks or twists. In 

 these respects it resembles white jiine very closely. Then, too, it is 

 soft, straight, light, and easily workable. It consequently tinds its 

 way into a great variety of uses that were formerly occupied by 

 white pine, as well as in its great special uses such as woodenwarc, 

 trunk stock, excelsior, cigar boxes, interior finish, novelty stock and 

 veneor backing. 



Although there are five separate species of basswood recognized by 

 Sargent in this country, the largest part of the lumber comes from 

 one species (Tilia amcricana). All of these species occur in the 

 eastern half of the United States. There are about twenty varieties 

 of basswood scattered over the northern hemisphere but the principal 

 American species is the most important one in the fanuly from the 

 viewpoint of economic utility. This species grows over a good por- 

 tion of the East, from northern Neiv Brunswick to Lake Winnipeg 

 in Canada and south along the Appalachian chain of mountains to 

 Georgia and Alabama. It also occurs west along the so-called fringe 

 forest of the prairies down through Iowa, Nebraska and Oklahoma 

 to Texas. It seldom forms a good portion of the stand such as is 

 common with the oaks, yellow poplar and red gum. It is usually found 

 as a scattering tree on moist soils. 



The recently published figures of the Census Bureau show that 

 during the year 1912, 298,000,000 board feet of basswood were cut. 

 Of the total cut of hardwoods amounting to about 8,000,000 feet, the 

 following hardwoods were cut in larger amounts: Oak, maple, red 

 gum, yellow poplar, chestnut, beech and birch, given in order. It is 

 therefore eighth in the list of hardwoods. Most of the basswood is 

 cut in the northern portion of its range. Wisconsin is the center 

 of production. This state together with Michigan, Wert Virginia, 

 and New York produced about one-half of the total amount. The cut 

 of the principal basswood states is shown as follows: 



Wl.sconsin 79,000,000 



Michigan 54,000,000 



West Virginia 33,000,000 



New York 29,000,000 



Ohio 15,000,000 



Minnesota 14,000,000 



Tennessee 10,000,000 



Altogether twenty-one states produced over 1,000,000 board feet 

 each. About eight other states were represented in a small way 

 in the cut. 



Basswood is found growing up to 130 feet in height and four feet 

 in diameter but it seldom reaches over eighty feet in height and thirty- 

 five inches in diameter. Over-mature trees are very apt to be heart 

 rotten and otherwise defective, but as a rule in tlie prime of life it 

 cuts very sound in our virgin forests. 



It is one of the lightest and softest hardwoods, having a specific 

 gravity of .45. The dry weight of a thousand board feet is usually 

 calculated at 2,400 pounds. The wood is diflfuse-porous, and very 

 tough and strong for its weight. It is not durable so that it is largely 

 used where it will not be subject to decay. It takes paint, oils and 

 other finishing materials to splendid advantage and its soft, even 

 texture makes it especially esteemed for pyrography and wood carving. 

 Although the average selling price of basswood is about $21 per 

 thousand, wholesale, at the mill, according to the government figures, 

 it certainly deserves a much better price and in the future it is 

 estimated that the price will materially advance. This may be shown 

 by the fact that the average stumpage values for basswood jumped 



: !■. r tlii.iiMiii.i 111 !:• l :•,.:' jir lliuu-aiid in lHn:. Id 



till- mime jicriud the uvvrugu uhuierule prices of lumber rum- from 

 $12.84 to $20.0:1. Of course in the recent general depresNion in busi- 

 ness conditions throughout the country these priccii linve not advanced 

 in projiorlion but everything ]>oints to a clearing up of this situation 

 particularly in the hnrilwood industry and basswood will be in e«|)e- 

 cially strong denuinil. 



It is interesting to study the amount used and the princijial lines 

 of utilization for basswood in the various states. It so happens that 

 the great basswood producing states are very important wood-using 

 states and in addition there are many industries locat*-d in these states 

 that naturally use large quantities of this useful wood. The following 

 list shows the amount of basswood used in several representative 

 states: 



Wisconsin 77,054.000 Ijonrd foot 



Michigan .'in,432,O00 l>onr(l feet 



.Now York .'■,<!,1(IO,0(PO l«oard feet 



Illinois .Vi,iio.".,ooii board feet 



Minnesota 2-l,'.'7S,000 hoard feet 



Maryland 5,490,000 board feet 



Massachusetts 4.100.000 board feet 



Connecticut .•!,559,000 board feet 



Iowa 3,237,000 l)oard feet 



This table is of especial interest to producers of basswood because it 

 shows just where the relative amounts of their product go. It may be 

 safely said, however, that basswood is used at least to some extent in 

 every state in the Union. 



In the great producing and using state, Wisconsin, basswood is the 

 leader of all woods for woodenware, trunks and cigar boxes. Ap- 

 parently woodenware would seem to be a comparatively unimportant 

 item. And yet this alone consumes over 25,000,000 board feet of 

 basswood every year. In the same state, in a long list of woods used, 

 basswood is second in the following wood-using industries: Agricul- 

 tural implements, in which nearly 2,000,000 feet of this species are 

 used annually; bee keepers' supplies, toys and wagons and l>oxes. 

 Basswood makes an ideal box wood because of its soft, even and 

 straight grain together with the fact that it docs not readily split and 

 it holds a nail well. 



In Minnesota basswood is the leading wood again for trunks and 

 woodenware; second for agricultural implements and third for furni- 

 ture. In New York it is first in the consumption of all woods for 

 toys, trunks and other small materials; and second for the following: 

 Pattern stock, dairymen's and poulterers' supplies, laundry appli- 

 ances, picture frames and mouldings, woodenware and novelties. 



Basswood is the best wood for excelsior because of its freedom from 

 injurious resins, gums or unpleasant odors, its straight, even, soft 

 grain, and the elasticity and resilience of its fibers even when dry. 

 Wood wool made from basswood brings excellent prices on the 

 markets. 



For cooperage heading, pail and butter tub stock and special 

 receptacles basswood is in great demand because of the above men- 

 tioned qualities. As a veneer core, it has no superior because of its 

 splendid seasoning qualities. It is largely used in certain sections 

 for veneer itself and is the only hardwood that can bo successfully 

 cut by the rotary process without first being softened in hot water. 

 Basswood veneer is used for trunks on accodiit of its strength and 

 toughness; for built up stock, mirror and picture backs, fruit and 

 vegetables baskets, etc. 



On one large hardwood operation visited by the writer the 

 small basswood trees in the woods were felled and cut up into bolts 

 which were shipped directly to woodenware and pail factories. As a 

 pattern stock it has considerable use, and is also being introduced 

 for use as match stock, paper pulp, musical instruments on account 

 of the resonant qualities of the wood fibers, furniture drawers and 

 backs, can'ing and cabinet work. 



Among other prominent uses of basswood may be mentioned the 

 following: Shelving, cabinet work, cheese boxes, furniture parts 

 and especially for chairs, interior finish, sash, doors and blinds, show 



