8 BULLETIN 152, U. S. DBPABTMENT OF AGBICULTTJRE. 



As the higher grades of pine grew scarce and expensive, hemlock 

 acquired a modest value of its own as a competitor with the succes- 

 sively lower grades of pine which were being introduced. Only the 

 best hemlock was at first put on the market, but afterward lower 

 grades came in for box manufacture and other purposes for which 

 high-grade lumber was not required. 



The production of only the best grade of hemlock necessarily 

 involved a great deal of waste both in logging and sawing. Partially 

 defective logs were culled out in the woods, because the lumber they 

 contained would not pay for their removal. Hemlock, when mature, 

 is commonly wind shaken and rotten at the butt, and branchy and 

 tapering at the top, so the amount thus left was naturally very large. 

 Many trees which contained some sound lumber were left standing. 

 In the mill, peeled logs had to be heavily slabbed to remove season 

 checks, and much of the heartwood might be unsalable because of 

 knots and shakes. Many of the slabs and edgings were made into 

 laths, but far more were burned. As lower grades of lumber became 

 salable there was less waste; trees were cut farther into the top and 

 shorter butts were taken, while slabs and edgings were sold to pulp 

 mills. In some parts of the country the broken logs and tops left 

 after logging are now cut into bolts and used for pulp. Means of 

 utilizing waste are rapidly increasing, and the present problem is, 

 which of these will pay best? 



Though inferior to yellow pine and Douglas fir where great strength 

 is required, hemlock lumber makes good building material and is said 

 to give greater strength and firmness than white pine. It is well 

 adapted for frames, sheathing, roofing, floor lining, and other con- 

 struction purposes. It is softer and lighter than southern pine or 

 Douglas fir, but holds nails as well. As drop siding it makes an 

 excellent outside finish for barns and houses, if kept well painted. 

 The best grades make attractive inside finish wherever a soft wood is 

 appropriate. 



The durability of the wood depends very largely upon the nature of 

 its use. In contact with the soil it is very perishable, and is not well 

 adapted for ground sills unless treated with a preservative. If kept 

 in a dry place, however, it is extremely durable. Even as outside 

 covering it will give good service if placed so that it dries out rapidly 

 and thoroughly after being wet. There are instances of hemlock 

 barns which still stand after 50 or more years' use. Shaved hem- 

 lock shingles, if of good, straight-grained wood and used on a mod- 

 erately steep roof, are practically as durable as white pine shingles. 

 An important defect of hemlock for such uses is its liability to 

 check and split when exposed to the sun. Hemlock laths are 

 said to make a firmer and better wall than pine, though harder to 

 nail than either the latter or basswood. 



