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FOREST UTILIZATION WOOD USES AND ECONOMICS 



tion of much sawmill waste, saving of freight charges, and the more 

 complete and efficient utilization of our available timber supplies. 



3. The use of band saws and Swedish gang saws as introduced by 

 Oxholm in place of the circular saws. Approximately 10% of the 

 total volume of saw logs goes into sawdust. Circular saws generally 

 convert about twice as much wood into sawdust as the band saws or 

 Swedish gang saws do. 



4. Lower stumps and closer utilization in the tops. Many spring- 

 boards are being abandoned in felling big timber in the Northwest and 

 in California. Forest Service timber sales have been notable for their 

 insistence upon complete utilization of the trunks of merchantable 



FIG. 92. Familiar scenes in European forests where peasants are permitted to 

 gather the twigs, branches and other forest litter for fuel. This illustrates in- 

 tensive forms of utilization where economic conditions justify them. On the right 

 is shown the forest of Soignes, Belgium, composed chiefly of beech. On the 

 left is a spruce forest in Switzerland being naturally reproduced. Photos by the 



author. 



trees by taking tops to as small a diameter as possible, and by cutting 

 low stumps. 



5. The manufacture of broom and other handles, lath, toys, and 

 novelties from slabs, edgings, and other sawmill waste. Formerly 

 much of this material was wasted or consumed at considerable ex- 

 pense by the installation and operation of large and expensive waste 

 burners. 



6. The installation of box board crating and shook factories at 

 or near the source of lumber supply. About 13% of our total lumber 

 production goes into wooden containers to serve the fruit and vege- 

 table trade of the South, California, and the Northwest. Enormous 

 quantities of shooks are manufactured. Although this practice has 

 been in effect for many years, recent increased efficiency has meant 

 the elimination of much of the former waste in cutting defective or 



