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



manufacturer generally cuts dimension material merely to use his 

 low-grade lumber and get a return from stock which is difficult to 

 market. There has been and still is a wide range in selling prices for 

 dimension material. A price as low as $30 a thousand board feet, 

 before the war, was reported for small clear stock cut from No. 2 

 common, and as high as $80 for chair stock cut from waste. Differ- 

 ences in price depend to a large degree on the quality of the stock. 

 Notwithstanding the many objections to the use of dimension ma- 

 terial, its manufacture in standard sizes in large quantity is success- 

 fully carried on. Dimension stock should be clear of defects and 

 first class in every way. Kiln-dried or thoroughly air-dried stock is 

 much more satisfactory than green or partially seasoned material. 

 Low prices and lack of demand for dimension materials are, in large 

 part, the result of the manufacture of improperly seasoned, scant, 

 and defective stock. 



Walnut-lumber manufacturers now often recut such low-grade 

 lumber as No. 2 common, for which there is a relatively small de- 

 mand, into smaller, less-defective pieces, which are classed in a 

 higher standard lumber grade or may be sold as a special grade of 

 stock that is narrow or short or both narrow and short. This 

 remanufacture is generally applied to the lower grades of 4/4, 6/4, 

 and 8/4, and to a considerable extent is taking the place of dimen- 

 sion manufacture. This method is advantageous in that the fac- 

 tories may saw their required pieces from this material, and the 

 waste that might result from the purchase and use of dimension 

 stock is often avoided. Some lumber manufacturers are disposing 

 of their low-grade walnut by running factories in connection with 

 their sawmills, in which they utilize the small sizes of material in 

 making such products as phonograph cabinets and various kinds of 

 boxes and novelties. 



VENEER. 



Because it is so easily worked with tools, walnut is an excellent 

 wood for manufacture into veneer. The pleasing appearance due to 

 its good color, the different figured effects and the variety of tones 

 and patterns which can be obtained from different logs, and its ex- 

 cellent finishing qualities combine to make it one of the most satis- 

 factory native woods for fine cabinet veneer. The best-growth logs 

 are generally sound, well rounded in cross section, straight, and with 

 little taper. Our wild cherry is also a good cabinet veneer wood, 

 but it lacks the figure of walnut, and even the best timber generally 

 has many small defects. Walnut, mahogany, and cherry are said 

 to be the most satisfactory cabinet woods for making sliced veneer, 

 because they are so easily cut with the veneer knife and make a 



