34 BULLETIN 1007, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



then assembled to form the partly finished pail, which is grooved 

 inside to receive the bottom and outside for the wire bands. This is 

 next turned smooth and sanded inside and out, the bottom inserted, 

 and the bands put on. 



Dark basswood can be used for these pails as well as light. The 

 wood must be quite clear, but small, tight knots are not objection- 

 able. The timber usually comes to the factory in the form of logs. 

 Some firms buy only No. 2 logs, which is the grade below the veneer- 

 log grade, since they can use sizes as small as 6 inches in diameter 

 at the small end. They prefer woods-run logs, however, if these 

 are not too high-priced (PL VII). The pail covers are generally made 

 from the waste in manufacturing staves. Hollow logs, which are 

 quite characteristic of basswood, can be utilized to good advantage, 

 because the outer sound rim of wood, if not too narrow, can be cut 

 into stave bolts and staves with comparatively little waste. Such 

 logs can usually be worked much more profitably into staves than 

 into lumber. Some hollow logs otherwise sound will yield one-third 

 more than the log scale in pail staves, when for lumber there would 

 be little if any overrun and only narrow widths could be obtained. 



Logs are generally purchased in 8 to 10 foot lengths, but much 

 material is also purchased in lengths of about 3 feet, especially small- 

 diameter timber, which is bought of farmers. Hollow logs are 

 accepted, but they should have at least a 6-inch rim of sound wood. 

 Hollow logs are sometimes taken down to a 4-inch shell, but such 

 material often can not be handled at a profit because of the expense 

 of the labor to work it up (PL VIII) . Small logs are profitable because 

 there is a large overrun in such logs compared with the yield in 

 lumber. Although factories prefer the timber not smaller than 6 

 inches in diameter, 5-inch and even some 4-inch sizes are taken if 

 of good quality. Some manufacturers prefer to purchase by the 

 cord of 128 cubic feet and in 39 and 52-inch lengths. On account of 

 the difficulty of getting it cut up, much small material is now shipped 

 in 12-foot lenths. Second-growth timber is considered the best 

 quality. 



Prices paid for basswood are quite variable, depending on the 

 general quality of the timber and the location; they range from 

 about $20 to $30 a thousand board feet f. o. b. cars at loading point. 

 Freight costs often amount to $5 to $10 a thousand in addition to this. 



Pail manufacturers of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota in 

 some instances own extensive timber tracts in the northern parts of 

 these States from which they get a large part of their raw material. 

 Basswood is becoming scarce even in this region, and manufacturers 

 must depend on other species. Aspen is being used to some extent 

 in place of basswood, although the supply is limited, sizes are small, 

 and the wood is much inclined to be defective, doty, and discolored. 



