COMMERCIAL REFOEESTATION 751 



gone over again. A good portion of the timber will be of the so-called semi- 

 rare variety such as oak, cherry, ash, birch, etc. By that time they will sel- 

 dom be using solid oak or cherry or ash. The foundation as it is today in 

 many branches of wood manufacture will be of baser wood with a veneering 

 of the higher grade to bring out all the beauty of grain and finish. The makers 

 of thread are having trouble already getting white birch for their spools. 



"It may be interesting to those who are visitors at the Grand Rapids 

 apple show and who admire the fine white birch of the artistic booths, to 

 know that thus far the thread manufacturer has been unable to find any 

 substitute for white birch for spools that may be had at anything like a usable 

 price. Almost every other variety of wood undergoes chemical changes and 

 contains chemicals that would discolor the thread, especially the light tinted 

 and white threads. Obviously this would be impracticable. So it is to the 

 white birch the thread manufacturer must look for spools upon which to 

 market his product. It is apparent then that white birch worthily deserves 

 its name. Like its snow white coat it is white clear to the heart. Its sap 

 is pure white and contains nothing from which a discoloring residue is left. 



"There are thousands and thousands of these trees on the 2,000 acres 

 of Mr. Day's reforestation tract. They all are pretty well matured. There 

 is indication of a great fortune some day in white birch alone. The white 

 birch for the land and apple show at Grand Rapids was picked out by Mr. Day 

 personally and shipped some weeks ago. It is now being made into booths 

 and bungalows in a building on Campau Street. 



"The main tract of forest owned by Mr. Day comprises fourteen hundred 

 acres. He has another tract of some 600 acres that is identical, though not 

 exactly contiguous. The main drive through these acres and acres of mag- 

 nificent young forest growth is one of the most popular trips in northwestern 

 Michigan. It is the magnet that draws many automobile parties from all 

 parts of the state." 



During the season just closed, the state fire icardens and rangers of the 

 Washington Forest Fire Association issued a total of 5873 permits to hum 

 slashings. Forester Baileys says, "This indicates that the small rancher is 

 clearng up his logged-up tract of land and putting it under cultivation at a 

 more rapid rate than ever hefore." 



