Baskets and Fruit Packages 1038 
industry of ‘‘ Dairymen’s, Poulterers’ and Apiarists’ Supplies,” 
nor from the larger industry of “ Packing Boxes and Crates.” 
Baskets is the only item easily distinguished. Much of the 
consumption of raw material was doubtless reported under the 
general description of packing boxes and crates. Berry boxes 
and small crates are generally thin veneer. Only the bottoms, 
tops, and corner parts of the heavier articles, such as potato 
and cabbage crates, are made of ordinary lumber, while even 
these pieces are generally 14 to 14 of an inch thick, lightness 
being necessary to avoid excessive freight rates on cheap 
produce. 
New York is normally foremost in the production of vege- 
tables and apples. The total of 8,527,000 feet is probably far 
short of the actual amount consumed for the marketing of the 
State’s horticultural and garden products. The stimulus to 
home gardening given by the war-garden movement, in a time 
when all produce was very dear, may have served to reduce 
materially the consumption for this industry. 
Hardwoods predominate in the industry because strength 
and toughness are needed in the small dimension stock used. 
Hard maple, beech, and basswood are used for covers and _bot- 
toms of baskets. Hoops, handles and potato-crate slats are 
largely made of elm, basswood and beech, while the corner 
pieces, sills, and posts of crates are generally made from 
chestnut, elm, oak, and ash. The standard rims for baskets are 
frequently made of white or red oak, while the heart pieces 
of oak sometimes go into basket handles. Bushel crates con- 
sume birch, cherry, soft maple, ash, and elm. Soft maple is 
used for lettuce boxes and is available generally wherever truck 
gardening is extensive. Elm also forms bands for baskets. 
Yellow poplar, hard maple, and ash are used extensively for 
basket staves. White pine and spruce are preferred for the 
more fancy apple and fruit package, but their use has apparently 
fallen off tremendously. The large proportion of local raw 
material consumed throughout the State is noticeable, which 
results in the low average cost of $35.85 per thousand feet, the 
cost being lower than any other industry except excelsior. 
