20 WOOD-USING INDUSTRIES OF MARYLAND 



appearance; but much of that employed in furniture is made into 

 backs, sides, and bottoms of drawers, into shelves, pigeon holes, parti- 

 tions and compartments in desks, chiffoniers, and sideboards, and 

 high-grade lumber is not demanded. The average mill-run value of 

 yellow poplar in the United States in 1908 was $25.30 per thousand 

 feet. The Maryland furniture makers had theirs delivered at their 

 factories at $4.46 less. 



Chestnut was fifth in quantity and sixth in value in the list of 

 furniture woods, and there was little difference in the cost per thou- 

 sand of the home-grown and the imported lumber. The average mill- 

 run value of chestnut in Maryland in 1908 was $14.39, and for the 

 whole country $16.27. The manufacturers used this wood both as 

 the outside, visible material, and as the hidden frames, and for that 

 reason they can find a place for about all grades that come from the 

 mills. The State supplied 17 per cent of chestnut used in this indus- 

 try, and the principal part of the importations were from Pennsyl- 

 vania and West Virginia. 



The sweet birch reported was practically all from other States, and 

 its price was nearly $10 a thousand higher than the average price of 

 the wood at the mills for the whole country in 1908. It is the outside 

 material when manufactured in furniture, and a good grade is de- 

 manded. 



Basswood, which in quantity was next to sweet birch, and in average 

 value was almost identical with it, is the inside material when made 

 into such furniture as depends on appearance for value; but when 

 used in kitehen and laundry furniture it frequently forms the entire 

 article. Its white color, its freedom from odor, and the ease with 

 which it may be kept in a sanitary condition, make it popular for 

 kitehen and pantry safes, and for cupboards. The average mill-run 

 value of basswood in 1908 for the whole country was $20.50. The 

 Maryland furniture makers paid an average price of $26.08 for theirs. 

 They bought it in the six States, Maryland, Kentucky, Tennessee, Wis- 

 consin, Virginia, and West Virginia. 



Little black walnut was made into furniture in Maryland. It was 

 formerly in much demand for that purpose, but other woods have now 

 taken its place, and the walnut goes to other industries. Of the twenty- 

 five woods on the Maryland furniture list, black walnut is next to the 

 least in quantity, French walnut alone falling below it. The amount 



