250 FOREST PRODUCTS 



SPECIES USED AND ANNUAL CONSUMPTION 



White pine formerly constituted a large share of the total amount 

 of lumber consumed for box purposes in this country. About twenty- 

 five years ago it is estimated that this species supplied from 50 to 60 per 

 cent of all of the material consumed for boxes. At the present time, 

 however, it furnishes only about 25 per cent of the total annual consump- 

 tion. Nearly every species of wood of commercial importance in this 

 country is now used for making box shooks and crating material. In 

 many cases, locally produced woods are used because of their availability 

 and relatively low cost. 



The use of yellow pine has advanced remarkably in the last few decades 

 for the making of packing cases of all kinds and now constitutes from 

 20 to 23 per cent of the total amount of lumber used for boxes. A good 

 share of the material classified as yellow pine is made of North Carolina 

 pine and produced in the South Atlantic States from Maryland to South 

 Carolina, inclusive. It is estimated that North Carolina pine consti- 

 tutes about 70 per cent of the total amount of yellow pine used for boxes. 

 Of the remaining 30 per cent a large share is made up of Arkansas and 

 Gulf States shortleaf and loblolly pine and the remainder of longleaf, 

 pitch and scrub pines. 



Red gum has recently entered prominently into the box-board 

 industry. It is somewhat harder, stronger, and holds the nail better 

 than the so-called soft pines and is extensively used in the Central West 

 and lower Mississippi Valley. 



Of the total consumption of wood for the making of boxes eight kinds 

 of wood constitute from 80 to 84 per cent of the whole. These include 

 white pine, yellow pine, red gum, spruce, western yellow pine, cotton- 

 wood, hemlock, and yellow poplar in order of importance. 



The principal states in the consumption of lumber for box shooks are 

 Virginia, New York, Illinois, Massachusetts, California and Pennsyl- 

 vania in order of importance. New York, Illinois and Massachusetts 

 produce comparatively little lumber, but they are great manufacturing 

 and industrial states and also produce commodities such as apples, 

 canned goods of various kinds, and other foods which require wooden 

 containers for shipment. 



The following table 1 shows the annual consumption of lumber by 



1 This table has been compiled by J. C. Nellis from the various reports of the wood-using 

 industries of each state carried on by the U. S. Forest Service in co-operation with the various 

 state agencies. 



