UTILIZATION OF BLACK WALNUT. 35 



GRADES AND PRICES. 



The manufacture of walnut has become such a specialized indus- 

 try that each log is generally purchased on its own merits without 

 regard to grade. One classification used for walnut logs is grade 

 No. 1 and grade No. 2. Grade No. 1 may have one or possibly two 

 knots or other slight defects. Grade No. 2 includes all defective logs 

 below grade No. 1 that are merchantable. Another classification 

 used is Nos. 1, 2, and 3. No. 1 logs are practically clear, and gen- 

 erally 16 inches and over in diameter at the small end; No. 2 are of 

 medium quality; and No. 3 of poor quality. This classification, of 

 course, leaves much to the judgment of the log buyer. Manufacturers 

 generally do not have any published grades. They usually purchase 

 logs 14 inches and over in diameter at the small end, and the small 

 sizes must be quite free from defects, particularly crook and large 

 knots. 



During the war the quality of logs was much lower than in normal 

 times, on account of the pressing need for the timber. Small and 

 defective logs were taken, which would not have been considered in 

 peace times. Almost any log that would yield a clear gunstock 

 blank was considered merchantable. The poorer class of such logs 

 could be manufactured into lumber only at a loss. 



Walnut lumber is classified by the National Hardwood Lumber 

 Association rules according to five grades — namely, firsts and seconds, 

 selects, No. 1 common, No. 2 common, and No. 3 common. In firsts 

 and seconds the pieces must be at least 6 inches wide and 8 feet long. 

 Each piece may have from one to three standard defects and a speci- 

 fied amount of sapwood, both depending on the size of the piece. In 

 selects, pieces must be at least 4 inches wide and 6 feet long. In 

 general, pieces of this grade are about equal in quality to the firsts 

 and seconds grade on one face and to the No. 1 common grade on the 

 other face. Specifications are given according to the size of each 

 piece. No. 1 common must be at least 3 inches wide and 4 feet long. 

 Each piece must be capable of yielding clear cuttings free from sap- 

 wood on one face and not over one-half sapwood on the reverse face, 

 each cutting with at least 144 square inches, a minimum width of 3 

 inches, and a minimum length of 24 inches, and with a maximum 

 waste of 33^ per cent. Pieces in No. 2 common must yield clear cut- 

 tings free from sapwood on one face, at least 2 inches wide, and with 

 a minimum of 72 square inches, with a maximum waste of 50 per cent. 

 No. 3 common must be at least 3 inches wide and 4 feet long and 

 must be capable of yielding sound cuttings at least 1-| inches wide, 

 and with a minimum of 36 square inches, with a maximum waste of 

 75 per cent. When steamed walnut is specified, restrictions as to sap- 



