42 FLORA OF MICHIGAN. 



above are employed as veneers, mostly made by steaming and cutting into 

 thin sheets as the log is made to revolve on its axis. Knots or burls of several 

 trees are much sought for to be made into veneers. Trees of walnut, 

 ash or maple with wavy like patches or blisters are valuable for veneers. 



The species of our native trees above named are most used for the 

 exterior or fronts of furniture, for finishing the interior of fine dwellings, 

 and for railway cars, but the timber of a very large number of other 

 species is employed for furniture which is covered with paint or for those 

 parts not exposed to view. 



No one, so far as our knowledge extends, has yet taken the pains to 

 employ the wood of some of our rarest trees and shrubs for the purposes 

 noticed under the last heading. 



For beauty and originality, we call especial attention to red maple, 

 coffee-tree, honey-locust, large hawthorn, June-berry, dogwood, sassafras, 

 red elm, hackberry, mulberry, ironwood, red cedar, papaw, prickly ash and 

 staghorn sumach. 



TIMBEE FOE FAEM IMPLEMENTS. 



Chief among the timbers valuable for this purpose, come white ash, 

 white and swamp-white oak, three or more species of hickory, rock elm, 

 sugar maple, black maple, and Norway pine; while, for certain portions, 

 basswood, whitewood, white pine, and a few others are much employed. 



TIMBEE VALUABLE FOE LAEGE OE SMALL BOATS. 



White oak and swamp-white oak and chestnut- oak are almost the only 

 timbers used where hardwood is needed and where it is more or less 

 exposed to moisture. For certain places tamarack is employed. Where 

 solidity is not especially required, white cedar is employed if the timber 

 be much exposed to water. For the upper and interior portions, all kinds 

 of timber are employed which are mentioned as suitable for cabinet work. 



KINDS OF TIMBEE MOST EMPLOYED FOE BOXES, BASKETS AND BAEEELS. 



Boxes for holding dry goods and the like are often made of white pine 

 or any other light timber, such as basswood or American elm. 



For cheese boxes, peck measures, etc., American elm is steamed and 

 cut into the right shape. 



For berry boxes whitewood is the favorite, when steamed and cut into 

 very thin sheets. 



For baskets and bottoming cheap chairs, black ash was formerly almost 

 exclusively employed. White oak was also used in like manner for stout 

 baskets, and the twigs of willow were sometimes called into use. More 

 recently " bushel baskets," market baskets and peach baskets have mostly 

 been made of thin strips cut after steaming, from American elm, white- 

 wood, beech, birch, basswood or several other kinds of timber. 



Barrels for liquids and flour are mostly made of oak, almost any kind if 

 sound; for salt barrels and wash-tubs, white pine is employed; for butter, 

 white ash is selected as it imparts no disagreeable flavor. 



Basswood is much used for heading. For barrel hoops thrifty young 

 trees of hickory, bitternut, white oak, and white ash are the favorites, while 

 American elm is now extensively employed, the pieces being cut and 

 shaped properly while the timber of large logs is steamed till it is soft and 

 spongy. 



