UTILIZATION OF BASSWOOD. 49 



can be driven in with the pressure of the thumb and can be easily- 

 withdrawn; at the same time the wood should hold the thumb tack 

 in place. Such boards are often made of several plies to obviate 

 any tendency of the wood to warp or split. Basswood is a preferred 

 wood, and yellow poplar is also satisfactory; white pine, sugar pine, 

 and redwood are much used for this purpose. Because of its suit- 

 ability for printing, alphabet blocks of basswood are made in large 

 quantities. It is also employed in the manufacture of cameras, the 

 wooden box and other small wooden parts of such instruments 

 consuming large quantities in the aggregate. Boxes for holding 

 various professional and scientific instruments, including carpenters' 

 tool chests and optical instrument cases, are often of basswood. 

 Pasteboards for paper hangers are also made of this wood. It is 

 used for cigarmakers' molds, because it is readily carved, and as 

 labels for potted plants on which writing or printing must show well. 

 Pencils and penholders of basswood are stained to give an attractive 

 appearance. It also serves for spirit levels and the backs of ther- 

 mometers. 



More than two-thirds of the entire amount of basswood reported 

 to the Forest Service by manufacturers for these uses was consumed 

 in New York State. 



HANDLES. 



Basswood is not adapted for handles of such tools as axes, sledges, 

 forks, and hoes, because it lacks the necessary strength. It is used 

 in considerable quantities, however, for broom and mop handles, 

 and for the long handles of window brushes. For short handles of 

 trowels, soldering irons, and files it serves very satisfactorily, and 

 also for the handles of engravers' tools. Harder woods, such as 

 beech, birch, and maple, are generally more satisfactory than bass- 

 wood for such handles, however, because they are stronger, wear 

 better, and do not split so readily. 



Ohio and Michigan reported the largest quantises of basswood for 

 handle manufacture. 



SHUTTLES, SPOOLS, AND BOBBINS. 



Basswood is the sixth wood in importance in the shuttle, spool, and 

 bobbin industry, birch and maple being most largely used. Bass- 

 wood is made principally into the one-piece spool for holding thread 

 or tape, and for the ends or disks of three-piece spools, which are 

 much larger and are used in textile mills. Paper or white birch is 

 most commonly used for these spools; but basswood is satisfactory, 

 because it turns well and makes a spool that looks well. 



The bulk of the basswood used in this industry was reported by 

 Massachusetts and New Hampshire. 



