32 BULLETIN 100*7, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



basswood is used, however, for interior -woodwork, especially for 

 ceiling and in the form of wide boards for finishing and panel work. 

 On account of its adaptability to cutting with tools, basswood serves 

 well for moldings and carved work in interior finish of various kinds. 

 Much basswood is also manufactured into bevel siding, but it is not 

 so well adapted to exterior work because of its liability to decay. 



Michigan and New York lead in the manufacture of this class of 

 products from basswood. Formerly much basswood was used for 

 this purpose in Ohio, but increasing scarcity and cost of shipment 

 have greatly reduced the quantities going into the industry. Rising 

 costs of the upper clear grades have had much to do with discourag- 

 ing its use, for the dark-colored and streaked material of the lower 

 grades is much less valuable for these purposes. Yellow poplar, 

 birch, and the softer grades of pine are now r generally used in place 

 of basswood. 



WOODEXWARE AXD NOVELTIES. 



Basswood is made into articles of woodenware used in the ship- 

 ment of provisions, such as pails and tubs. It is well liked for such 

 uses, because it is light in weight and odorless, and the light color 

 of the wood makes a good appearance. On account of its good 

 working qualities, it is easy to manufacture into such products. It 

 also has the advantage of showing stenciling extremely well. The 

 light weight of the wood effects a large saving in freight, both when 

 shipped empty to the purchaser and w r hen filled vnth provisions. 



Basswood is the favorite wood for candy pails, because it gives 

 an appearance of cleanliness. For the same reason it is used for 

 jelly pails, called "jelly kits," which are used for the shipment of 

 jelly in bulk. Most liquids will seep through bassw T ood, but jelly 

 hardens in the w r ood and prevents the liquid from coming through. 

 Fish pails and pickle pails are sometimes made of basswood, in which 

 case they must be paraffined to make them water-tight. Such pails 

 are made more commonly of a hard pine. Lard pails, lard tubs, 

 and grease pails are commonly made of basswood. They are usually 

 varnished on the outside and given a finish to resemble the grain of 

 oak or some other hardwood. Candy pails are sometimes grained 

 in this way also. Fish, pickle, and jelly pails are usually painted 

 or decorated in some characteristic manner. 



Generally only the sides and covers of these pails are of basswood. 

 The bottoms are usually made of Norway pine, maple, or birch. A 

 fairly hard wood is necessary for the bottoms in order to bear the 

 weight of the contents of the pail and to make a tight, rigid joint. 

 The staves for the sides of these pails are cut from basswood bolts 

 by a tight-stave circular saw. After being thoroughly dried they 

 are trimmed to the proper length and width and a small tongue and 

 groove made along the edge on the two sides (fig. 5). They are 



