UTILIZATION OF ELM. 23 



Considerable elm is made into bent rims for the circular sides of 

 such, articles as cheese boxes and round measures. The raw material 

 is generally secured in the log, slabbed, and cut into planks up to 

 4 inches thick, depending on the width of the rim to be cut from it. 

 The planks are then steamed and shced. The strips are next planed, 

 steamed, put through rollers, and placed in a circular form which 

 holds them in the desired shape until dry. Plate IV, fig. 2, shows 

 rims for cheese boxes ready for shipment. In making these rims the 

 softer grades of elm are used because of their ease in working. Cheese- 

 box rims are also made from veneer cut directly from the log by the 

 rotary process.^ 



Cork ehn plays an important part in the manufacture of step- 

 ladders, stepladder chairs, and stepladder stools. It is especially 

 desirable for the top step of such ladders and for other pieces where 

 there is considerable strain and the screws must hold very firmly 

 and not work loose. Cork elm is a good wood for long ladders, 

 especially for the rungs, where it is very serviceable. Tent pins 

 and shdes are made of rock ehn because of its good wearing quahties. 



An average price of $16.85 per thousand board feet is reported for 

 elm used in woodenware and dairymen's and poulterers' supphes. 

 This is about the lowest price recorded for any one industry using 

 elm and is due to its being obtained in the log and from local sources 

 for the manufacture of such products as bent rims. Many other arti- 

 cles included under this heading which take relatively small amounts 

 pay a much higher price ; rock-elm lumber for ladder rungs, for instance, 

 usually costs the factories about $30 a thousand board feet. 



MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. 



A large quantity of elm goes into pianos and organs, in which it is 

 utilized largely for the framework. Its cheapness in comparison to 

 other suitable woods, its strength, abihty to stand shock, and good 

 gliiing quahties recommend it especially for this industry. It is not 

 used so much now as formerly on account of its increasing scarcity. 

 It was formerly considered as the most desirable wood for posts and 

 backs of pianos, and considerable is still used for these parts.^ A 

 comparatively high price per thousand feet ($33.62) is reported for 

 elm in this industry, since high-grade material is required. 



REFRIGERATORS AND KITCHEN CABINETS. 



Elm is much used for kitchen furniture, for which over 13,000,000 

 board fee^ are consumed annually. White elm is particularly 

 adapted for kitchen cabinets and kitchen tables because it scours 



1 Red oak is also used for rims, but is not so satisfactory. Birch is a fairly good wood for cheese-box sides. 

 Black ash is sometimes used, but is not so suitable. Red gum has been tried, but its brittleness is a decided 

 drawback. 



2 Hard and soft maple veneer glued together in alternate layers ■with a sheet of hard maple on the outside 

 to give an attractive appearance has largely displaced elm lor piano backs. Posts of hard maple are also 

 used. 



