WOOD-USING INDUSTRIES 



Red gum timber is plentiful in and near Virginia, and in price is 

 approximately as reasonable >as for loblolly and shortleaf pine. The 

 merits of red gum, as material for boxes, has been recognized by the 

 box makers, and in Virginia next to yellow pine they use it more than 

 any other wood. The heart wood is often laid aside and used for 

 packages for exporting goods. Being the principal troe for the rotary 

 veneer cutting machines, red gum furnishes much of the material go- 

 ing into veneer boxes. 



When provisions are shipped in containers in contact with the wood 

 they are made from lumber which does not have a tendency to impart 

 a taste or odor. The resinous properties of the yellow pine and the 

 gums do not fit them for this use, but, instead, the yellow poplar, cy- 

 press, spruce, and sycamore meet the demand. Chestnut too was called 

 on for this purpose. It was used for meat and cheese boxes. Spruce 

 and yellow poplar in the order named were the principal material for 

 butter boxes, while fresh fish and oysters were packed in boxes made 

 principally from yellow poplar and cypress. 



Reshippers are extensively manufactured in Virginia. They are 

 a strong constructed high-grade box crate used for carrying glass 

 bottles, principally soda water, beer, table water and milk 

 bottles. Reshippers have to stand much wear and rough handling 

 and must be made from a strong compact wood. Tupelo has proven 

 most serviceable and was most extensively used. Red gum, cypress, 

 chestnut, and yellow poplar were also worked into reshippers. White 

 pine, sap gum (red gum) and tupelo were reported as the leading 

 woods for interlocking and dovetailed boxes. Strong packages in 

 which projectiles are shipped were made exclusively of longleaf pine. 



TABLE 4. BOXES. 



