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



shape when treated in this way. The No. 1 common grade or log 

 run is generally used for the manufacture of such articles from which 

 clear stock is cut for exterior parts, and lower-grade stock is utilized 

 for the interior woodwork. 



Indiana and Michigan use the largest quantities of basswood for 

 these purposes. 



CAR CONSTRUCTION. 



Basswood is used in a small way in the construction of locomotives 

 and freight cars in places where much strength is not required. For 

 passenger cars, both steam and electric, it serves for exterior and in- 

 terior finish, including panel work. It is valued highly for cores finished 

 in expensive veneers, such as are seen in Pullman and private cars. 



The use of basswood in this industry was reported, generally in 

 rather small amounts, by a large number of States. 



LAUNDRY APPLIANCES. 



Basswood is the favorite wood for the manufacture of a large num- 

 ber of articles grouped under this head, because of its whiteness and 

 light weight. For ironing boards it is the preferred wood, on ac- 

 count of its good appearance unfinished, and because it works so 

 easily to a smooth surface and does not warp or split readily in use. 

 Besides the regular-sized ironing boards, small skirt and sleeve 

 boards are also made of this wood. Adjustable curtain stretchers 

 used in laundering lace and other thin-fabric window curtains are 

 preferably of basswood. The clothes rack which folds together like 

 a screen and is used in drying clothes is commonly made of this wood. 

 Basswood is much used for the front panel and top crosspiece of 

 washboards, because of the white, clean appearance of the wood. 

 Washboards are generally purchased on the basis of their good ap- 

 pearance, and one with a white, clean-looking panel will sell more 

 readily than a less attractive one. Moreover, a printed advertise- 

 ment is usually put on the panel by the manufacturer, and basswood 

 shows such printing exceedingly well. Other laundry appliances 

 are frequently stenciled with the name of the firm, and for this 

 reason basswood is the favorite wood. Clothespins of the kind 

 composed of two wooden strips held together by a wire spring and 

 called "clip pins" are sometimes made of this wood. Basswood 

 also serves for parts of washing machines where good strength and 

 wearing qualities are not requisites. 



Manufacturers using mainly the clear, white wood have much 

 difficulty in disposing of their discolored and low-grade stock. 

 Some firms covert this stock into small articles, such as round bot- 

 toms of fancy baskets; others sell such material to box factories. 

 Manufacturers generally find it most advantageous to buy log-run 

 lumber and work out of it the stock they need, rather than to pay 



