34 BULLETIN 909, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



ture the same kind of stock from them. The best that can be done, 

 therefore, is to show averages derived from reports of several large 

 representative manufacturers. These reports relate to grades of 

 lumber produced and cover a considerable amount of material. The 

 data are available for the years 1912 and 1919 and are as follows : 



1912: First and seconds, 30 per cent; No. 1 common, 45 per cent; 

 No. 2 common, 20 per cent ; No. 3 common, 5 per cent. 



1919 : Firsts and seconds, 15 per cent ; selects, 7 per cent ; No. 1 

 common, 45 per cent; No. 2 common, 23 per cent; No. 3 common, 

 10 per cent. 



From the figures covering the year 1912 the overrun of the log 

 scale could not be determined. It is probable, however, that this 

 overrun was greater than the average generally obtained from hard- 

 wood timber, because walnut logs usually run smaller. The high 

 overrun during the war, amounting at many mills to about 40 per 

 cent, was the result of sawing the thick gunstock flitches, which 

 usually contained many defects. The small loss in saw kerf also 

 helped to increase this overrun. For the year 1919 it is claimed that 

 the overrun resulting from the sawing into lumber amounted to only 

 about 10 per cent. This overrun seems remarkably low, but it is ac- 

 counted for by the very poor quality of the logs remaining in the 

 hands of the manufacturers that year, for a very large part of this 

 timber was purchased to fill Government contracts and was intended 

 mainly for rifle-stock blanks. Logs of that kind have many inte- 

 rior defects; and in most cases defects visible on the outside of the 

 log were not scaled out, because the mill people were so desirous of 

 obtaining the logs. Manufacturers claim that the 10 per cent over- 

 run was entirely absorbed by the 10 per cent No. 3 common, or 

 cull grade, which became unmerchantable, because of the very 

 large amount of this low-grade stock on hand from the manufacture 

 of war materials. Some walnut mills even claim an actual loss when 

 the yield of merchantable lumber was compared with the amount 

 of the log scale. 



Under the present normal conditions, logs are scaled more closely 

 for defects than during the war period ; and, therefore, the overrun 

 and also the proportion of firsts and seconds is greater. Furthermore, 

 a better average grade of logs is being purchased. It is also probable 

 that there will be a greater demand for cull or low-grade material. 



The high percentage of the No. 1 common grade, as compared with 

 that of other woods, is due, in the main, to the remanufacture of the 

 No. 2 common grade. By resawing the widest and least defective 

 lumber of this grade, narrower and shorter pieces are cut which will 

 be classed as No. 1 common grade. In this way the amount of defec- 

 tive material is reduced. 



