UTILIZATION OF ELM. 17 



cent (92,614,000) of the total number of staves reported for 1911 were 

 of elm. The output of ehn staves is therefore being replaced by other 

 woods, which is due to a depletion of the supply in the regions of stave 

 manufacture. 



Woods which steam well and retain their form when bent, and which 

 do not taint or sour substances in contact with them, make the 

 choicest stave material. Ehn fills these requirements to a high 

 degree, and on account of its additional advantage of great strength 

 is generally considered the most desu-able wood for slack-barrel 

 staves. 



Good quahty ehn staves are much in demand for the highest grade 

 slack barrel, principally for sugar and flour. Elm is well liked for 

 sugar barrels on account of its strength. Lower grade ehn staves 

 serve well in barrels used for shipping bottles, glassware, crockery, 

 etc. A good grade of ehn staves often brings a high price. A high 

 grade of No. 1 for sugar and flour barrels may sell for from $9.50 to 

 $10 a thousand. The usual price, however, is about $9. Red gum 

 has largely replaced ehn as a stave wood on account of the growing 

 scarcity of the latter wood and the plentifuhiess of gum in the regions 

 where slack stave factories are now operating. Although not as 

 strong as elm it makes a satisfactory stave. No. 1 gum staves usually 

 bring about $8 a thousand. Some manufacturers are unable to get 

 more than 50 cents a thousand for ehn staves above the price for gum 

 and find it more profitable to manufacture the best of their elm into 

 lumber, convertmg the more defective material into low-grade staves. 

 Hackberry is sometimes used in place of ehn. Hackberry, however, 

 is not so strong. It is also not durable, and logs often decay badly 

 before going into the factory. 



Ehn is not so much in demand for heading, because it is likely to 

 warp when exposed to alternate wet and dry conditions. Less than 

 2^ per cent of the total amount of slack heading reported in 1911 was 

 of this wood. Elm is used for head linings, which are thin strips 

 used to hold the heading in place. 



Elm is manufactured into slack-cooperage stock principally in the 

 States bordering the Great Lakes, and in Mississippi, Arkansas, and 

 Tennessee. In 1911 Ohio stood first in the production of hoops, 

 Indiana second, and Michigan third. For many years the hoop 

 industry was confined to these three States by reason of the abun- 

 dance and excellent quality of the elm growing there. In 1907 they 

 manufactured 86.4 per cent of the output and in 1908, 82.4 per cent, 

 but in 1911 their production fell to 64.9 per cent. Tlie hoop industry 

 is moving southward. In 1911 Arkansas was fourth, Mississippi 

 fifth, and Louisiana sixth in importance in the manufacture of hoops. 

 Mississippi has shown a great increase in hoop manufacture, holding 

 50425°— 18— Bull, 683 3 



