SLACK COOPERAGE 119 



The legal fruit barrel in the State of Indiana shall contain not less 

 than 12 pk. 96 qt. or 6451 cu. in. 



The State of Wisconsin provides that the barrel shall contain 31.5 

 gal. and a hogshead 2 bbl. A barrel of flour measured by the hun- 

 dred weight shall contain 196 lb.; a barrel of potatoes, 172 lb.; a barrel 

 of unslacked lime, 200 lb. ; a barrel of apples or pears usually represents a 

 quantity equal to 100 lb. of grain or dry measure. 



QUALIFICATIONS FOR SLACK COOPERAGE STOCK 



Almost any species may be used for slack cooperage. Since slack 

 barrels must compete with other forms of containers and packages, such 

 as sacks, paper and cloth bags, fiber board boxes, wooden boxes and 

 crates, cartons, etc., the primary requisite in considering stock for the 

 manufacture of slack barrels is its comparative cheapness. Aside from 

 this, it should be light in weight to reduce shipping charges and the wood 

 should be easily worked. Woods which are soft and of uniform grain 

 and texture, therefore, are much preferred to those which are hard, 

 heavy and coarse. 



Woods which dry quickly, steam well and retain their form when 

 bent, are also in high demand for slack cooperage stock. Woods which 

 are light in color are in especial demand for heading purposes. Basswood 

 is generally considered our best heading wood on account of its light color 

 together with its other admirable qualities, such as excellent workability, 

 lightness in weight, freedom from resin, etc. Woods which do not con- 

 tain oils, resins or discoloring materials or other substances likely to taint 

 or sour substances brought into contact with them make very desirable 

 heading and stave material. 



For the manufacture of hoops, woods which are primarily tough, dur- 

 able and exceedingly strong are required. Species likely to warp are not 

 considered satisfactory, especially if the retainer is to be used for certain 

 commodities. 



WOODS USED 



Until aboi# 1890 practically the only wood used in the manufacture 

 of slack cooperage was oak, and a large portion of this was white oak. 

 The rapid rise in the value of oak, however, caused the cooperage trade 

 to change to other less valuable but still abundant woods. Elm became 

 the leading wood used for slack barrels and it became known commer- 

 cially as the " patent elm stave." Until about 1900 and since 1890 elm 

 was the leading wood used in this country for hoops and for staves and 



