UTILIZATION" OF BASSWOOD. 35 



The wood of balm of Gilead, a tree which resembles the aspen, is not 

 liked because it is shaky and otherwise defective. The white or 

 paper birch is sometimes used when supplies are available and is 

 said to make a good pail. Second-growth white pine, if not too 

 defective, is also fairly satisfactory. 



Factories in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota have difficulty 

 in getting sufficient suitable timber, and those which are not located 

 conveniently to a supply from the northern parts of these States 

 have in some cases been compelled to go out of business or move 

 farther north. Even this supply is becoming so scarce that large 

 manufacturers realize that they must look to new territory. It is 

 probable that a large part of the industry will be transferred in the 

 near future to the Pacific coast, where, in some instances, tracts of 

 softwood timber have been already acquired for the purpose. 



A large demand exists for pails of the kind just described. As a 

 rule, they are not used a second time, on account of the cost of ship- 

 ment and because they find a ready sale at retail stores. 



The cheese box is another common woodenware commodity made 

 of basswood. Small cheese boxes used for shipping fancy cheeses 

 are commonly made of basswood throughout. Veneer is used for 

 the sides, and small pieces of thicker stock for the bottoms and covers. 

 Basswood is also sometimes used for the heading for large cheese 

 boxes; for the sides of these larger boxes a strong tough wood, such 

 as elm, is required. In making the small cheese boxes the better 

 grade of logs is used for the veneer, and low-grade and small logs 

 are sawed into lumber for the bottoms and tops. Such lumber, even 

 though defective, yields a large amount of the small, clear pieces 

 required. Basswood is easy to manufacture into this product and 

 makes a light and attractive box for the purpose. 



A very large number of other articles of woodenware are commonly 

 made of basswood. Important among these are kitchen utensils, 

 such as bread boards and boards for cutting slaw and other vege- 

 tables; also such articles as bowls and candlesticks, which are turned 

 on the lathe and to which hand carving may be added. Cloth boards 

 on which goods are wound, lap boards, and cutting boards of various 

 kinds are commonly of basswood, because it is white, light in weight, 

 and not so readily split as many other light woods. Small, clear 

 pieces of waste basswood are often worked into such articles as fan 

 handles. Wooden novelties of many kinds, often sold as souvenirs, 

 are made c.f basswood because of its good working qualities. Check- 

 ers and dominoes are commonly of this wood, because it shows paint- 

 ing to excellent advantage. Basswood is the favorite wood for 

 pyrography because of its whiteness, although little is now used in 

 this way. Porch shades, snow shovels, and ladders are other articles 

 in which basswood is valued because of its light weight. Because it 



