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HOOP-POLES 



An industry that is carried on at times, and which offers some 

 opportunity to utilize small material on cut-over lands soon tO' be 

 cleared for agriculture, is the making of split hoops. The market for 

 these hoops varies, but they can sometimes be handled at a profit when 

 the demand can not be met by machine-made hoops. Young hickory 

 trees from one-half to four inches in diameter and six and one-half 

 feet long are used. It is not recommended, however, that good young 

 growth of hickory be used for this purpose, especially where it is on 

 land that is to be held permanently in forest, unless it happens to be 

 taken out in thinning a stand that is too dense. 



BOX MATERIAL 



The fruit and canning industries of southern Illinois create a 

 demand for boxes and crates that is met to a certain extent by local 

 factories. Gum, maple, tulip-poplar, and cottonwood are the chief 

 woods in use. Tupelo and cottonwood are used especially for egg- 

 crates. Few factories obtain their entire supply of raw material from 

 within the state, and many ship in one-half or more from Kentucky or 

 Missouri. 



CHARCOAL 



In the southern part of the state there are quite a few charcoal 

 plants, usually equipped with ordinary brick kilns. Softwoods com- 

 prise about three-quarters of the timber used in this way. The industry 

 is very advantageous in providing a market for wood that would 

 otherwise be wasted in clearing up the bottomlands for agriculture. 

 The usual price paid for mixed wood is from $1.50 to $2 per cord. 



FENCE POSTS 



It is impossible to give any right idea of the size of the fence-post 

 industry. The individual farmer generally cuts his own posts if he 

 has any suitable wood; if not, he buys them in the neighborhood. The 

 principal trees used are durable species such as catalpa, walnut, cherry, 

 mulberry, juniper, and the oaks, especially white, post, bur, and black 

 oaks; while the less durable woods are occasionally used where the 

 better class is not available. Many cedar posts from the northern 

 states are also being imported, but the supply is running short and 

 the price increasing. Cement posts are beginning to compete with 

 wood, but it is doubtful whether they will ever seriously affect the 

 market, except perhaps in the prairie region, on account of their cost. 



