THE NORTHERN HARDWOODS REGION 289 



which are not cut in far greater amounts elsewhere in the United 

 States. In fact, they are all cut on a commercial scale in one 

 or more of the other New England forest districts. However, 

 an estimate of the annual cut (based on census figures for the 

 year 1909), would place it in the neighborhood of 250,000,000 

 feet, board measure. 



Much of the better grade of hardwoods, such as the red birch 

 (as the red heartwood of the yellow birch is called) are made into 

 high-class flooring. Many mills that specialize in this trade are 

 also equipped with machinery for utilizing the poorer grades, 

 which are not fit for flooring, in the manufacture of such small 

 articles as clothespins, novelties, toys, etc. 



Small wood-working plants, manufacturing various articles 

 such as bobbins, novelties, staves, and heading for slack cooper- 

 age, caskets, tool handles, excelsior, veneer for baskets, etc., are 

 abundantly scattered throughout the region. They buy rough 

 lumber or cut small quantities of wood especially for their own 

 use. None of them especially characterizes tlie region. The 

 wood used in these plants would largely be included in the 

 figure of the annual lumber cut already given. 



Maple Sugar Industry. — This industry gathers and manu- 

 factures a forest product and is therefore a forest industry. It 

 characterizes the region, although extending beyond its bounds, 

 following the commercial distribution of the sugar maple. The 

 spruce region of New England, and portions of New York and 

 Ohio are the only competitors in this industry with the northern 

 hardwoods region.^ 



The northern hardwoods region is the most important one for 

 the production of the two products, maple sugar and syrup. 

 There is so little margin of profit in these industries that they 

 cannot be financially profitable except when carried on in con- 

 nection with farming. 



The summer-resort business is one which brings considerable 



^ The sugar and syrup produced in New York State is largely produced in the 

 extension of the New England northern hardwoods region, which surrounds the 

 spruce region in New York State. 



