USES OF COMMERCIAL WOODS. * 21 



streiiofth. and stiffness are desired. It is a good dowel wood because 

 it is -trong. 



Makers of office furniture draw upon yellow l)irch for Ijoth outside 

 and inside wood. The principal articles into which it goes are 

 desks, large tables and small stands, chairs, benches, and filing cabi- 

 nets containing numerous drawers and compartments, as well as 

 fixtures for offices, banks, stores, and bars. 



VEHICLES. 



Yellow birch has not as wide or important a place in vehicle mak- 

 ing as have some other woods, but it is well fitted for certain uses 

 because it is hard, strong, and stitf. Its cheapness is often a con- 

 trolling factor in its use. It has long had a place in hub factories, 

 particularly for small vehicles. The hub is made in a single piece 

 turned down to proper size and shape. In Maine logs down to a 

 diameter of inches are received in the hub factories. The manu- 

 facturers of automobiles find it suitable for filler l)oards and for parts 

 of frames. Factories makinor Sfocarts and carriaofes for children buv 

 yellow birch in considerable quantities and use it for frames, bot- 

 toms, and handles. Stone lx)ats. which are strong, heavy, and clumsy 

 sleds for dragging stones short distances, are frequently made of 

 yellow birch. There is a long list of places in general vehicle making 

 where it serves occasionally. 



WOODENWARE. 



Yellow birch finds a place in practicalh^ all kinds of woodenware. 

 A large percentage of the birch broom handles on the market are of 

 this wood, though nearly every other birch contributes something. 



It goes into the thin plates and dishes made for pies, butter, lard, 

 and many other commodities, though the quantity used falls much 

 below that of maple and beech. The large number of yellow birch 

 logs in the yards of factories making such plates show, however, 

 that the wood is extensively employed. Statistics of finished products 

 turned out by the industry give little information of species used, the 

 custom being to class everything as '* hardwood." 



Tubs and pails are sometimes made of yellow birch, provided 

 weight is not objectionable. The wood is twice as heavy as some of 

 the pines and cedars. It does not seem to be specially sought after 

 by this class of coopers, but is empkn-ed because it is cheap, con- 

 venient, and good enough. 



Many small handles for such articles as flatirons, gimlets, augers, 

 screw drivers, chisels, varnish and paint brushes, and butcher and 

 carving knives are made of the wood, some of sapwood, others of 

 heart. 



