UTILIZATION OF BASSWOOD. 55 



Large cooperage and woodenware factories get their timber very 

 largely from their own tracts. Small firms must usually depend on 

 purchase from various sources. Cooperage factories use logs 7 inches 

 and over in diameter at the small end for barrel heading. Factories 

 making pails and tubs use the largest quantities of basswood. They 

 generally prefer woods-run logs, for which they pay about $30 a 

 thousand board feet on board cars at loading point, taking sizes 

 down to 6 inches in diameter at the small end (PI. VII). Lengths of 8 

 to 10 feet are preferred, but shorter lengths of about 3 feet are often 

 purchased. Some firms buy only No. 2 logs, which are small and 

 largely defective, often with hollow centers, and pay about $15 a 

 thousand board feet loaded on cars. Logs 6 inches and up in diam- 

 eter are taken if not too defective, and even some 4-inch sizes are 

 accepted if they are of good quality. Hollow logs with a 4-inch shell 

 are taken by some factories if they are otherwise sound. Second- 

 growth, clear, white basswood is preferred by these factories because 

 it makes a much more attractive pail. Last-block manufacturers 

 purchase basswood logs as small as 12 inches in diameter at the small 

 end. Factories making ladders sometimes buy basswood in the log 

 also. 



Box factories in many instances buy basswood in the log. The 

 logs are also frequently used for the manufacture of vegetable crates. 



BOLTS. 



Basswood in bolt form is used by excelsior and pulpwood plants. 

 Excelsior wood should be of good quality, sound, reasonably straight, 

 and free from knots. Lengths of 36, 37, 54, and 55 inches are the 

 most oommon ones specified, and a minimum diameter of 4 inches 

 is accepted. Diameters of 7 to 12 inches are required to be split in 

 half, over 12 inches split into four pieces, and very large sizes split 

 in proportion. Some firms require that the large bolts be split to 

 the heart into pieces 6 to 8 inches wide on the bark side. Excelsior 

 wood is usually purchased green and unpeeled or dry and peeled. 

 Some factories accept peeled stock in the green or partially air- 

 seasoned condition. Usual prices paid for 36 and 37 inch lengths 

 are $3 to $4 a cord with bark, and $4 to $5 peeled; for 54 and 55 

 inch lengths the prices are proportionately greater. The cord for all 

 lengths given is 4 feet high and 8 feet long. These prices are for wood 

 on board cars at loading point. The price at the factory is usually 50 to 

 75 cents a cord more for 37-inch wood. Excelsior wood should not be 

 allowed to dry with the bark on, because it can be barked satisfactorily 

 only when the wood is green. Wood which has thoroughly air sea- 

 soned is most acceptable ; ordinarily it should not stand more than two 

 years, however, as it may become brittle and is likely to be attacked 

 by decay, which impairs its value. If it is to stand in piles for any 



