488 Forestry Quarterly. 



By far the greater quantity of excelsior 

 Excelsior. is made from small, second-growth bass- 



wood and poplar, although considerable 

 is made from cottonwood, balsam, spruce, and willow. The wood 

 is usually cut in 4-foot lengths, and peeled in early spring. The 

 peeled wood produces cleaner excelsior and dries quicker. Poplar 

 (probably Aspen) requires a year to become thoroughly seasoned. 

 Green or damp wood is unsatisfactory because it clogs the ma- 

 chinery and is apt to become mouldy when pressed in bales. 

 After the wood is seasoned it is cut square ended into 16-inch 

 lengths. Open air seasoned wood is preferred to kiln dried. 



There are two classes of machines : an upright double-head 

 machine and an 8-block horizontal machine. Both are adjustable 

 for different grades of excelsior. Excelsior is usually cut from 

 1/32 inch to 1/8 inch wide and about i/ioo inch thick; these 

 machines can however, be adjusted to cut from 1/64 to 1/2 inch 

 wide and from 1/500 to 1/50 inch thick. The double upright 

 machines require about 5 horse-power each and have a capacity 

 of I ton per day, that is approximately i cord of 4-foot wood. 

 The horizontal machine cuts about 5 tons per day. 



Excelsior is selling at $18 to $22 per ton and the finer wood- 

 wool at $30 to $35. The cost of production varies for $3 to $5 

 per ton. Many of the large consumers have plants of their own. 



The best grades of excelsior are made from basswood. That 

 not more of this is used is due probably to its scarcity and to the 

 high price of the stumpage. Cottonwood is the favorite excelsior 

 wood, contributing 43.3 per cent of the total amount consumed. 

 It was used by manufacturers in 18 States. — U. S. Bureau of 

 Census Report for 191 1. 



Canada Lumberman and Woodworker. October, 1913. 



STATISTICS AND HISTORY. 



The Prussian budget for the year 1914- 

 Prussian - 15 contains some interesting figures. It 

 Budget. is marked by increased receipts and ex- 



penditures along most lines, as for many years. 



For the state forests, an area of 7,518,159 acres, (or 6.7 million 

 productive) receipts and expenses are estimated as follows: — 



