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



weight to save cost in transportation in salesmen's trunks. These 

 forms are tooled to final shape from the rough-turned blocks; and 

 to reduce weight to the minimum they are often hollowed. Bass- 

 wood is considered the most practical wood for this use, because it 

 is light in weight, easily worked, does not split readily, and holds 

 its shape well. The wood is also used for lasts for rubber boots in 

 some instances. The increasing high cost and scarcity of basswood 

 have made a demand for a lower-priced substitute, but none seems 

 available which is as suitable. 



The wooden soles of clog shoes are often of basswood. Such shoes 

 have leather tops and are for use in wet and cold places, such as 

 tanneries, creameries, mines, dye works, fish canneries, slaughter 

 houses, paper mills, and in foundries and metal works. They are 

 also used where a durable, low-priced shoe is desired. Yellow poplar 

 is often used in place of basswood for wooden soles. A high quality 

 of wood is required for these products, and the percentage of waste 

 is high, especially in the use of thick stock or billets for the manu- 

 facture of the shoe forms. 



New York, Massachusetts, Maine, and Michigan reported the 

 largest quantities of basswood used for these purposes. 



CASKETS AND COFFINS. 



Basswood is used in several ways in the construction of caskets 

 and coffins. It is made into cheap caskets and coffins, which are 

 often stained to imitate more expensive woods ; and it is well adapted 

 for use in this way, because it is easily worked and finishes well. 

 It is also frequently used for the cloth-covered casket. Its main 

 use in the industry, however, is as a core wood for panels of expensive 

 caskets covered with veneer and for moldings and carved work on 

 such caskets. The outer case, usually called "rough box," which 

 also often serves as a shipping case for the casket, is sometimes 

 made of basswood because of the good appearance of the wood. 



A large number of States reported comparatively small quantities 

 of basswood used for this purpose. 



PROFESSIONAL AND SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS. 



Basswood is well liked for many professional and scientific instru- 

 ments because of its good color, ease of working, and light weight. 

 It is a favorite wood for yardsticks and rulers because it shows 

 printing to advantage and does not warp. Manufacturers of adver- 

 tising novelties use large quantities of basswood, particularly for 

 yardsticks on which advertising matter is printed. Drawing boards 

 and the tops of draughtsmen's tables ",have certain requirements 

 which must be met if they are to be satisfactory. The wood must 

 be soft so that the thumb tack used to fasten the sheet in place 



