226 THE TREE BOOK 



in health and decay, their structure and species, 

 their natural requirements, uses, etc. A well- 

 known forest products laboratory is that main- 

 tained in cooperation with the University of 

 Wisconsin. Here all the physical properties of 

 wood are investigated. Tests are made as to 

 its strength, its seasoning and kihi drying, its 

 use in the production of fiber board, paper 

 pulp, and so on. Studies are made in the manu- 

 facture of wood alcohol, turpentine, tar, resin, 

 and other chemical products. Advices are also 

 furnished the Bureau of Wood Utilization con- 

 cerning valuable uses for waste products, such, 

 for example, as the making of methyl (wood) 

 alcohol and acetic acid by the distillation of saw- 

 dust. It is the business of this bureau to know 

 what sorts of wood are needed in special indus- 

 tries, and which factories can use odd and ends 

 of lumber. For example, a maker of brush 

 backs told the Bureau that he could use only the 

 heartwood of the birch tree; within less than a 

 hundred miles was a spoolmaker who could use 

 only the sapwood. These two parties were 

 brought together, and each made use of the oth- 

 er's waste. A maker of veneer wrote in to know 

 what he could do with the cores which remained 

 after he had pared off the outer surface of the 

 logs which were used in his factory. It hap- 



