A NATIONAL PLAN FOR AMERICAN FORESTRY 1373 



decay, and shrinkage, and in full utilization of the log. Plywood 

 already is changing from a product for decorative purposes to one 

 that has wide possiblities in the structural and fabrication fields. 

 Great significance lies in the fact that its consumption, like that of 

 of pulp, paper, and cellulose, is rapidly increasing, whereas that of 

 other forest products has been on the decline. The development of a 

 good water-resistant glue and of commercially practicable methods 

 of using it have put plywood into entirely new uses, as in concrete 

 forms and wall and floor construction, in which lumber has been 

 losing markets to other materials. 



The present conception is that only large-size clear logs can be 

 used economically for the manufacture of plywood. Research is 

 needed to determine whether relatively poor and small logs may not 

 also be usable through the development of improved cutting methods 

 and machines. Methods may be found for cutting veneer from logs 

 now suitable only for lumber so as to make the saving in kerf com- 

 pensate for the loss in speed of cutting. 



Even failing the development of radically improved cutting meth- 

 ods, further attention to veneer production is almost certain to bring 

 to light the practicability of using in structural plywood timber of 

 lower quality than is now used. 



Dimension stock has been proved by factory studies and actual 

 practice to meet the requirements of many of the wood-using indus- 

 tries better than lumber. These facts have led to the shifting of 

 machining operations from the factory in the distant city to the saw- 

 mill near the supply of timber. This has been particularly the case 

 in the auto-body industry and to a less extent in the production of 

 furniture and sash and doors. The saving in freight on waste and 

 the better advantage in the cutting of the material from the log have 

 proved to be important factors in reduction of costs to the user. It 

 has been found from production studies in the Lake States that the 

 use of improved operating methods and specially designed machines 

 result in a higher material and monetary return from second-quality 

 timber for null-cut dimension stock than cutting the same quality or 

 even a better quality of material into lumber. The further develop- 

 ment of methods for producing high-quality dimension stock, includ- 

 ing sawing, seasoning, and bundling, is required. Modifications need 

 to be worked out not only to meet the requirements of consumers but 

 to apply to different classes of timber and size and character of hold- 

 ings. The need is particularly urgent to meet conditions in New 

 England, because dimension stock production affords the key to the 

 management of hardwood timberlands in that region and to the sup- 

 plying of an important market with home-grown material of good 

 quality. Especially important also is the development of dimension- 

 producing units to serve as concentration plants for the output of 

 hardwoods from farm woodlots in the North, South, and East. 



SELECTION AND GRADING 



In addition to the new and improved forms of wood that should be 

 developed to meet modern demands, lumber itself through various 

 improvements near at hand or in prospect can become almost a dif- 

 ferent product and thereby strengthen its own position both in cost 

 and in quality. 



