156 Appendix 
inches wide, 3/16 of an inch thick on the thick edge, 1/16 of 
an inch thick on the thin edge, and range from 4 to 7 feet in 
length. 
Tight cooperage 1s unimportant in New York, the principal 
centers of that industry being in Arkansas, Mississippi, Ten- 
nessee, Alabama, Louisiana, Missouri, Kentucky, and the 
Pacific States. 
VENEERS 
The raw material which goes into the veneer plant is in the 
form of logs. There are three processes of manufacturing. In 
one process the logs are cut into square blocks called flitches, 
and then passed through the usual process of sawed lumber, 
except that a special equipment is required for producing very 
thin lumber, whereby guide ways are used to hold the very thin 
boards upright and in proper position while the saw passes very 
slowly along the side of the log. 
Another process is that of slicing, wherein the log is 
thoroughly steamed, squared, and then dropped against a sharp 
knife extending the full length of the log. 
The third process is called ‘ rotary cut” which is similar 
to the slicing method except that the log is prepared in round 
form, and after being steamed is revolved rapidly against a 
fixed knife, which peels off a thin, continuous sheet. This 
latter process is the most economical, requires less skill, and is 
in more general use than the others. 
Veneers are cut into many thicknesses from 5/16 to 1/120 
of an inch. The domestic rotary cut woods range from 1/50 
to 5/16 of an inch in thickness. The imported woods are cut 
mostly from 3/16 to 1/34 of an inch. The mahogany veneers 
are cut mostly to 1/28 of an inch with a good proportion of 
3/16 of an inch. The extremely thin mahogany veneers find 
such uses as tobacco-can linings and coverings. 
The growing tendency to market many commodities, such as 
fruits and vegetables, in light-weight packages has opened a 
wide field for thin lumber and the future promises extensive 
