92 FOREST PRODUCTS 



3. The particular species should grow to a comparatively large size 

 and must be symmetrical in shape. 



4. The species in common demand must be reasonably free from 

 defects such as various forms of checks, shake, frost cracks, rot, pitch 

 streaks, " cat faces," etc. 



5. The grain and fiber of the woods should be of such a nature that it 

 readily adapts itself to manufacture. This, however, is of compara- 

 tively little importance as practically any wood can be made into veneers. 

 Some, however, lend themselves to certain processes of manufacture 

 better than others. 



Woods Used. 



Although red gum is pre-eminently the most important wood used for 

 veneer, nearly all of the commercially important species used for lumber 

 and other forest products in this country are used to some extent for this 

 purpose. Altogether 37 separate native species and 13 foreign woods 

 were manufactured into veneers according to the figures of the Census 

 Bureau for 1911, which are the latest available statistics. 



With the advent of the heavy demand for veneers about 1900, red 

 gum took its place as the leading veneer wood and for the past decade it 

 has furnished about one-third of all the veneers cut in the country by all 

 processes. It is now used for some of the most expensive veneers as well 

 as the most ordinary lines of usage. When cut on the quarter grain it 

 offers a most pleasing figure and grain, arid it has entered very prominently 

 into the market for high-grade cabinet and finishing veneers. 



Over 136,000,000 bd. ft. of red gum logs are used every year for 

 veneers. Owing to the extensive available stands of red gum in the 

 lower Mississippi Valley, its low-priced stumpage, the tall, large sym- 

 metrical stem which is ordinarily free from defects, and its compara- 

 tively soft, even and attractive grain, it meets very satisfactorily the 

 requirements for a desirable veneer wood. It is likely that it will hold 

 its commanding position for a long time to come. Red gum is largely 

 produced in Arkansas. Missouri and the other states in the lower Mis- 

 sissippi Valley also contribute to its production. Veneer logs of this 

 species bring from $9.00 to $14.00 delivered at the mill, per thousand 

 board feet. 



White oak is next in importance as a veneer wood, and it comprised 

 9 per cent of the total amount of veneer produced in 1911, when over 

 41,000,000 bd. ft. of white oak were used for this purpose. Probably 

 75 to 80 per cent of all sawed veneers and nearly this percentage of sliced 



