182 A MANUAL OF FORKS TRY 



out. Posts are usually 7 or 8 feet long; and standard telegraph, 

 telephone and electric poles are 25 feet or longer. Practically all 

 species are used for fence posts, the prices varying according to 

 the durability of the wood. Butternut and ash are in special 

 demand in localities where the above species are lacking. 



Piling. - The classification or grading of piling and the species- 

 accepted depends largely upon its use, whether in fresh water, 

 salt water, or on land, and upon its form and size. Specifications 

 usually require piles to be fairly straight, sound, cut from live 

 trees, and without defects that will impair durability. A top 

 diameter of at least six inches is required. Butts of piles under 

 30 feet in length are required to have a diameter of from 12 to 

 1 6 inches; and butts of piles from 30 to 50 feet in length from 1 2 

 to 1 8 inches. Piling is sold at a stated price per linear foot for 

 specified dimensions and kinds of wood. The price increases 

 rapidly with increase in length and desirability of form. 



Excelsior. The chief woods used for excelsior manufacture 

 are poplar and basswood. Although the latter is the preferred 

 wood, this market is more important in connection with poplar 

 since that is a much more common tree, and one which has fewer 

 uses. Within 25 or 30 years after a fire poplar is large enough 

 for excelsior bolts, although it will be found more profitable to 

 leave stands a few years longer. Excelsior wood is bought in 

 bolts 4 feet or 4 feet 6 inches long, either peeled or unpecK-d. 

 The poplar is usually cut in the early summer and peeled. Bolts 

 from 4 to 8 inches in diameter are taken unsplit; from 8 to 12 

 inches in diameter they should be split in two; and when over 

 12 inches they should be split into pieces 6 to 8 inches wide on 

 the bark side. Bolts less than 4 inches in diameter are not 

 accepted. 



Wood for Distillation. Since the beginning of the war wood 

 alcohol and acetate have increased in value so much that several 

 new manufacturing establishments have been built, some of them 

 in the East. The products of hardwood distillation in the order 

 of their importance are acetate of lime, wood alcohol and char- 

 coal. A large amount of cordwood of maple, beech and birch is 



