USES OF COMMERCIAL WOODS. 27 



put to any use. The red hearts are occasionally Avorked into brush 

 backs, parts of furniture, or crating. If the slabs are not burned 

 under the boilers they are frequently made into cordwood for fuel 

 in towns and cities. 



NOVELTIES. 



The term '* novelty " is difficult of exact definition, but when made 

 of wood, novelties are generalh^ understood to include miscellaneous 

 small articles, both useful and ornamental. Large numbers of small 

 wooden boxes are made by boring blocks of wood, shaping them in 

 lathes, and fitting lids on them. Paper birch is one of the best woods 

 for this class of commodities, because it can be worked thin, does not 

 readily split, and is of pleasing color. Such boxes, or two-piece 

 diminutive kegs, are used as containers for articles shipped and sold 

 in small bulk, such as tacks, small nails, and brads. Such containers 

 are generally cylindrical and of considerably greater depth than 

 diameter. ]\Iany others of nearly similar form are made to contain 

 ink bottles, bottles of j^erfumery, drugs and liquids, salves, lotions, 

 and powders of many kinds. Many boxes of this pattern are used by 

 manufacturers of pencils and crayons for packing and shipping their 

 wares. 



Such boxes are made in enormous numbers by machines. A single 

 machine of the most improved pattern will turn out 1,400 an hour. 

 After the boring and turning are done, the boxes are smoothed by 

 " rattling " them in large cylinders with soapstone. 



One-piece shallow trays or boxes, without lids, used as card receiv- 

 ers, pin receptacles, butter boxes, some kinds of fruit platters, and 

 contribution plates in churches are often made of pai:)er birch. When 

 a more expensive wood is wanted, the choice falls on sweet birch, 

 holly, black walnut, mahogany, and rosewood. 



Paper-birch curtain rings are popular because they can be made 

 so smooth that they slide readily upon the poles. Collar boxes of this 

 wood, turned from solid pieces, are frequently seen, and wooden 

 candlesticks are among paper-birch products coming from the lathe. 



The line separating novelties from woodeuAvare is obscure, but 

 when this birch is employed in the manufacture of clothespins, clothes 

 hangers, lamp mats, card racks, pail handles, and the like, the articles 

 are generally classed with woodenware. 



Large quantities of paper birch are made into toothpicks, about 

 3,000 cords annually in Xew England alone, which is much more 

 than of all other woods combined. The highest grade is selected, and 

 it must be free from red heart, knots, and other defects. It costs 

 from $15 to $25 a cord. Toothpicks may, therefore, be regarded as 

 the most exacting use to which paper birch is put. The wood is cut 

 in rotary veneer, the length and thickness of the toothpick. This 

 article is occasionally shipped to England, France, and Germany. 



