UTILIZATION OF ELM. 17 
cent (92,614,000) of the total number of staves reported for 1911 were 
of elm. The output of elm 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. Elm fills these requirements to a high 
degree, and on account of its additional advantage of great strength 
is generally considered the most desirable wood for slack-barrel 
staves. 
Good quality elm 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 -elm staves 
serve well in barrels used for shipping bottles, glassware, crockery, 
etc. A good grade of elm 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 elm as a stave wood on account of the growing 
scarcity of the latter wood and the plentifulness 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 elm staves above the price for gum 
and find it more profitable to manufacture the best of their elm into 
lumber, converting the more defective material into low-grade staves. 
Hackberry is sometimes used in place of elm. Hackberry, however, 
is not so strong. It is also not durable, and logs often decay badly 
before going into the factory. 
Elm 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. The 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 
